Instagram Adds Republication Feature & Location Sharing Controls

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Instagram Launches Optional Location Sharing Feature

Instagram is rolling out a new feature allowing users too share their real-time location with select friends, offering a layer of privacy control not previously available. The feature, announced by Meta on June 13, 2024, allows users to designate specific friends with whom they share their location, and can be toggled on or off at any time. Users can also view locations shared by friends and creators on a map interface.

Location sharing is disabled by default, prioritizing user privacy. Meta emphasizes that users retain full control, with the ability to exclude specific locations or individuals from location access. This contrasts with previous location-based features on Instagram wich were often tied to broader location tagging of posts.

The initial rollout of this feature is limited to users in the United States, with Meta stating that it will become available in other countries “soon.” The feature is being developed by Instagram’s core engineering team in Menlo Park, California, led by VP of Product, Ashley Stillman. The move is seen as a response to growing demand for more granular privacy controls within social media platforms.

Context: The Evolution of Location Sharing

The concept of location sharing on social media isn’t new. Early iterations, like Foursquare (founded in 2009), focused on “checking in” to locations. Facebook introduced location features in 2010, allowing users to tag their location in posts. Snapchat’s Snap Map, launched in 2017, offered a more dynamic, real-time location sharing experience, but raised privacy concerns.Instagram’s new feature aims to strike a balance between these approaches, offering real-time sharing with a strong emphasis on user control. The market for location-based social networking is currently valued at approximately $85.8 billion USD as of 2023, according to a report by Statista, and is projected to reach $178.6 billion by 2029.