Instagram is rolling out Instagram Map, a new feature that lets users share their most recent active location, discover location-tagged content, and even drop short Notes for friends to see.
While location sharing is off by default and only updates when users open the app (not in real-time), the move clearly echoes Snapchat’s popular Snap Map, which recently surpassed 400M monthly active users.
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But Instagram isn’t stopping at maps. The platform is also launching Reposts and making the “Friends” tab in Reels available globally, further pushing its pivot to social discovery and tighter-knit networks.
With Instagram Map, users can explore what’s happening nearby, like a music festival your friend just posted about, or a reel from a creator raving about a new restaurant in your city. Even without sharing your own location, the map serves as a real-time pulse of what people are experiencing around you.
One small twist? Instagram Notes, previously confined to your DMs, can now be left on the map itself: short, ephemeral blurbs that act like digital sticky notes for your friends to stumble upon.
Instagram is chasing Snap’s map clout but with Meta’s scale and creator ecosystem, this battle is just getting started.
