Stay Connected: Instagram Introduces 'Friend Map' For Real-Time Location Sharing
Instagram is in the works of introducing an innovative feature dubbed ' Friend Map ,' allowing users to track their friends' locations in real-time. Originally discovered by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi last year, the feature has now been officially acknowledged by a spokesperson from Meta in response to TechCrunch .
According to a recent report by TechCrunch, Friend Map is currently in the testing phase as an internal prototype . Based on screenshots shared by Paluzzi on Threads, it appears that Instagram users will have the ability to select who can view their location, sharing it exclusively with followers who reciprocate the follow.
Furthermore, users will have the option to leave brief messages in the form of ' Notes ,' visible to others. Additionally, the new functionality includes a 'Ghost Mode,' enabling users to conceal their most recent location activity and selectively share their whereabouts with individuals in their 'Close Friends' list.
If Instagram proceeds with the rollout of the 'Friend Map' feature currently under development, it wouldn't be the first instance of the Meta-owned platform drawing inspiration from Snapchat. Notably, Instagram adopted the Stories feature from Snapchat back in 2016.
In recent updates, Instagram has expanded its creator marketplace into India, driven by automated recommendations fueled by machine learning algorithms. This expansion aims to analyze data and propose creator partnerships deemed ideally suited for them, according to the company.
According to a recent report by TechCrunch, Friend Map is currently in the testing phase as an internal prototype . Based on screenshots shared by Paluzzi on Threads, it appears that Instagram users will have the ability to select who can view their location, sharing it exclusively with followers who reciprocate the follow.
Furthermore, users will have the option to leave brief messages in the form of ' Notes ,' visible to others. Additionally, the new functionality includes a 'Ghost Mode,' enabling users to conceal their most recent location activity and selectively share their whereabouts with individuals in their 'Close Friends' list.
If Instagram proceeds with the rollout of the 'Friend Map' feature currently under development, it wouldn't be the first instance of the Meta-owned platform drawing inspiration from Snapchat. Notably, Instagram adopted the Stories feature from Snapchat back in 2016.
In recent updates, Instagram has expanded its creator marketplace into India, driven by automated recommendations fueled by machine learning algorithms. This expansion aims to analyze data and propose creator partnerships deemed ideally suited for them, according to the company.
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