Instagram Wants You To Share Where You Are – But Do Users Still Trust That Idea?

Instagram has started quietly rolling out a new location-sharing feature called Instagram Map, and unsurprisingly,  it’s already dividing opinion. The update, first launched in the US earlier this year, allows users to share their last active location with friends and view stories or posts pinned to physical places on an interactive map.

Meta says it’s designed to help people connect in real life and discover local content. But, it’s also raising serious privacy concerns.

While it may be completely safe, well thought out and fun for users to engage with friends and followers, the first thought that came to mind when I noticed this on the app was, wasn’t this what almost sunk Snapchat’s metaphorical ship?

A Map for the Social Age

The feature isn’t automatic – you have to opt in, and Instagram insists it doesn’t show a real-time feed of your every move. Instead, it logs your most recent active location, typically the last time you opened the app. From there, you can choose who gets to see it, from your “close friends” list to a custom selection of followers. Even if you don’t share your own location, you can still explore the map to see public content from friends who have tagged theirs.

Instagram has tried to present this as a cautious, safety-first rollout. The feature debuted in the US before gradually expanding elsewhere, and after early backlash, Meta introduced small visual cues like new map icons to make it clearer when your location is being shared. These tweaks are a direct response to user confusion, with some people reporting they appeared on the map even when they hadn’t opted in.

Sharing or Oversharing?

For many, the idea of being mapped feels like one step too far. The promise of “more connection” sits uneasily alongside Meta’s long history of privacy missteps, and the fact that Snapchat has tried this before (and not very well) isn’t exactly a promising sign. People remember how easily “optional” features can creep into something more invasive over time. And, when location data is involved, the stakes are higher: from potential stalking and harassment to exposing users in vulnerable situations.

Yet, there’s also a case to be made for why Instagram Map could catch on. For those who use the app to discover new restaurants, events or meet-ups, the feature adds a social layer to location – it could turn geography into a shared experience rather than a private detail. It could also strengthen smaller creator communities that rely on local engagement.

Lessons From a Ghost: Snap Map’s Warning

Of course, as we’ve already mentioned (although I’m sure we didn’t have) this isn’t the first time a social platform has tried to turn location into a social experience.

Snapchat’s Snap Map, launched back in 2017, promised something similar – a way to see where friends were in real time, represented by cartoon Bitmojis scattered across a world map.

According to The Guardian, it didn’t take long for the backlash to begin. Parents were horrified to learn their children’s locations could be visible to anyone in their friend list. Privacy experts warned it could enable stalking, and worsst of all, many users didn’t even realise they were sharing their live location until someone pointed it out. Snapchat eventually added “Ghost Mode” to hide users from the map, but by then, trust was already damaged.

Many, including me, thought this was the simultaneous birth and death of social media applications and location sharing.

But, Instagram appears to have learned at least some lessons from that saga. Its version is less intrusive – it’s more about moments than movement – and it places a stronger emphasis on consent.

The company also insists that it doesn’t track users continuously, and that locations expire rather than staying visible indefinitely. But as with so many of Meta’s “optional” features, skeptics wonder how long those boundaries will hold once the feature is fully embedded. This is, of course, speculation.

The Social Pressure of Being Seen

Beyond privacy, there’s also the question of emotional safety. Snap Map taught platforms that constant visibility can heighten social pressure. Seeing where everyone is and who they’re with fuels comparison and jealousy, things that are most potentially damaging for teenagers and children. Instagram already struggles with these dynamics through its curated feeds, and the concern is that adding physical location risks amplifying them further.

In fairness, Instagram Map could succeed where Snap Map stumbled if it manages to make discovery more valuable than surveillance. Its promise lies not in showing people where you are, but in connecting them to what’s happening nearby – something users might actually find useful if it’s handled transparently and respectfully.

The Real Test: Earning Back Trust

But that’s the catch: trust. Instagram can design all the toggles and icons it wants, but if users don’t believe the company has their best interests at heart, they won’t share their location – no matter how compelling the feature sounds. And after years of data scandals and shifting privacy policies, trust is the one thing Meta can’t simply code into the interface.

Instagram Map might represent the next stage in social discovery, or it may just another reminder that “sharing” and “safety” rarely coexist comfortably. The world may be getting smaller, but not everyone wants their every move mapped along the way.