The new Instagram Map is a direct move by Instagram to compete directly against the Snap Map found in Snapchat. The update allows one to share their own latest active venue along with location-based things shared by friends, as well as creators. In spite of the fact that location sharing is not enabled by default it gets updated when users open the app not in real-time. The method provides the users with more privacy control but uses the same concept as Snapchat.
The thing with Instagram Map is that it is only about location display. It is also used as a discovery tool. The stories posted by friends and creators attached to a place will be able to be viewed on the map thus it becomes easy to track events, restaurants or local activities without sharing location information you can also browse shared location-based information.
Inclusion of the “Notes” in the map allows individuals to make a small message that can be seen by other folks within the exact location which contributes to the social and interactive aspect. The action will also help to bridge the window left by a rival homegrown social mapping application, Zenly, which Snap discontinued in 2023.
Instagram is favoured by the fact that it has such a vast number of users, which may make this feature rampant at a rapid rate. By rolling out the tool internationally after testing it in the United States, Instagram will be able to polish it further.
Together with the map, Instagram will launch the so-called Reposts that resemble the share feature in TikTok and the retweet idea in Twitter. People can share/repost public reels and feed posts, and this repost will be shown both in friends’ feeds and on a special tab on their profile. Not only does this provide users with additional avenues through which to exchange content to which they have access, but it also enables those generating such content to have greater visibility among those who express an interest.
“Friends on reels” feature is currently in beta and being rolled out internationally, displays public reels that friends have liked, provided comments, reposted or posted. To overcome this issue of privacy, Instagram enables a user to hide their activities on this tab, as well as mute the activity of some individuals.
All in all, the updates are indicative of the fact that Instagram has been pursuing a similar path of importing popular functionality of its competitors, but with slight deviations into its ecosystem. The Instagram Map would prove a potent combination of community and content curation and the Friends tab would make sure that a person stays interested in what the rest of their network is up to. All these features enhance the capabilities of Instagram to win the competition for the attention of users.
