Meta-owned Instagram on Wednesday introduced three new features to boost connections among friends: Reposts, a Friend Map, and a ‘Friends’ feed within the Reels tab.In a video posted on the platform, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri said the app is evolving to be “not just a lean-back experience that is just fun and entertaining, but also a participatory one.”Friends Map Shows Last Active LocationInstagram has introduced a new map feature that lets users share their last active location with friends. This optional feature can be turned off at any time. Users can also explore the map to see what their friends or favorite creators are posting from interesting or fun spots.Integrated within the direct messaging (DM) inbox, the feature closely resembles Snapchat’s Snap Map — another example of Instagram drawing inspiration from its rivals.This update is part of Instagram’s broader push to enhance DM functionalities, which continue to play a central role in how users connect and interact on the platform.Repost Your Favorite Reels and PostsInstagram now lets users easily repost public reels and feed posts, making it simpler to share content they love with friends.Reposts appear as recommendations in followers' feeds and are stored in a dedicated “Reposts” tab on the user’s profile for quick access.Each repost automatically credits the original creator, giving their content a chance to reach broader audiences — even those who don’t follow them.How to Control Location Sharing on InstagramLocation sharing is off by default on Instagram. Users must opt in to share their location - and even then, they have complete control over who can see it, whether it's Close Friends, select individuals, or no one at all.Users can also block specific people or exclude certain places from seeing their location. If enabled, location updates occur when the app is opened or brought back from the background.Location sharing can be turned off at any time.For parents using Instagram’s supervision tools, there are built-in options to manage and monitor their teens’ location-sharing settings on the map.123159135
