Instagram is rolling out a new feature that lets users share their live location with friends and family via direct messages (DMs), among other upgrades.
This feature currently limited to select countries, allows users to share their real-time location for up to one hour. Additionally, users can pin a specific location on a map, such as a meeting point or a restaurant, to help coordinate plans.
Here is what it looks like.
It’s important to note that live location sharing is strictly private and can only be accessed by people within the specific DM, whether it’s a one-on-one chat or a group chat. The feature is disabled by default, and users have full control over when and with whom they share their location.
To ensure user privacy and security, Instagram has implemented several measures. A clear indicator will appear at the top of the chat to remind users that they are sharing their live location. Users can also choose to stop sharing their location at any time, regardless of the one-hour time limit.
Instagram is also introducing 17 new sticker packs with over 300 fresh stickers to spice up your DMs. Meta acknowledges that sometimes words fall short, so these new stickers are designed to express emotions and ideas more vividly. Additionally, you can now favorite stickers from your chats to easily reuse them later.
To personalize your DM experience further, Instagram allows users to customize names within chats. You can assign nicknames to yourself and your friends, making conversations more personal and fun. These nicknames are exclusive to DM chats and won’t affect your public username.
You have full control over your nickname. You can change it whenever you like and decide who can modify it within a specific chat. By default, people you follow can change your nickname, but you can keep this privilege to yourself.