A new feature on Instagram lets users share their real time location through direct messages (DMs). This is extremely useful for the organization of meetups for meeting friends at a party or travelling safety.
Here’s how to use this feature:
How to Share Your Live Location on Instagram:
Open Instagram and Access Direct Messages:
- Open your DMs by tapping the paper airplane icon in the top—right corner.
Select a Chat:
- Tap an individual or group chat to tell your location.
Initiate Location Sharing:
- Below left corner of a chat, there is a “+” icon, tap on it.
- From the menu, choose ‘Location’.
Choose Location Type:
- For example, to share your live location tap “Share Live Location.”
- To share a specific place, locate and choose the place in the search bar.
Set Duration for Live Location (if applicable):
- Up to one hour you can share live location.
- Tap “Stop Sharing” any time you want to stop sharing.
Key Features:
Privacy Controls:
- By default, location sharing is off, and must be turned on manually.
- Your location is viewable by only participants in the chat.
- You cannot forward shared locations into other chats.
Visual Indicators:
- A shared location indicator is at the top of the chat.
Additional Options:
- A Map allows you to drop a pin onto the map to share a specific meeting point.
This feature is rolling out and may be unavailable to some users at first. Update your app to access the newly added features.
Integrating real time location sharing, Instagram allows for a greater level of interaction between users and makes it simpler to meet and coordinate with friends and family.