Instagram is introducing a new feature called Instagram Map, which allows users to share their most recent active location and discover location-based content. Alongside this, the platform is rolling out reposts and making its “Friends” tab in Reels available worldwide.
The Instagram Map feature draws inspiration from Snapchat’s Snap Map, which has over 400 million monthly active users. By default, location sharing is turned off, and a user’s location only updates when they open the app—unlike Snap Map, which offers real-time updates as an option. Instagram does allow real-time location sharing via direct messages, but only for up to one hour, unlike Apple’s Find My or Snap Map, which support indefinite sharing.
The new map feature aims to help friends coordinate meetups and explore content tied to specific locations. For example, if a friend posts a story from a music festival or a creator shares a reel about a new restaurant, these will appear on the map. Users can also leave short messages, called “Notes,” on the map for others to see.
Instagram Map is launching first in the United States, with plans for a global rollout soon. Users can access it at the top of their direct message inbox. The feature had been in development for some time, with leaks surfacing last year.
In addition to the map, Instagram is introducing a repost feature, similar to TikTok’s repost button and Twitter’s retweet function. This allows users to share public reels and feed posts, which may appear in their friends’ feeds and in a dedicated “Reposts” tab on their profile. Users can add notes to reposts before sharing them.
The “Friends” tab in Reels, previously available in the U.S., is now expanding globally. It displays public reels that friends have liked, commented on, reposted, or created. Users who prefer privacy can opt out of having their engagement activity shown in the tab or mute specific people’s interactions.
While Instagram’s new map feature competes with Snapchat, it also appeals to fans of Zenly, a social map app that Snap acquired and later shut down. These updates reflect Instagram’s ongoing efforts to enhance user interaction and content discovery.