In an exciting new update, Instagram will be rolling out locating sharing feature in DMs which will allow users to share their live location for up to 1 hour.
This feature is a much-have for anyone who wants to coordinate arrival times, activities, or find each other in crowded spaces – perfect for concerts or other outings with friends. With the exhausting task of coordination taken care of, it more time together and live in the moment.
This feature is used by several social media channels. WhatsApp allows users to share their location for up to eight hours, Google Maps offers a similar feature for Android, as does Apple for its devices. Instagram’s implementation of it is testament to its enduring popularity and success with users, giving it a head start competitors.
Are there are restrictions?
In a blog post, Instagram has explained some limitations of their new feature:
“Live location can only be shared privately in DMs, either in a 1:1 or group chat, will expire after 1 hour, and is off by default. When sharing, only those in the specific chat can see your location and your location can’t be forwarded to other chats. You’ll also see an indicator at the top of your chat to ensure you don’t forget that you’re sharing your live location. You can stop sharing your location any time. Remember to always be mindful of your privacy and only share your location with people you know in real life,” they explained.
Instagram has also specified that its new location sharing features are currently only available in select countries, although the precise list is still unknown.
Is that all?
Instagram has introduced several other features to DMs, including:
- New Stickers: Instagram has added 17 new sticker packs that feature over 300 stickers. You can use them in DMs and save your favorites to get easy access.
- Nicknames: You can now give yourself and your friends nicknames in DMs in one-on-one chats. This applies to both personal and group chats. If you don’t like a nickname someone gave you, you can hide it or even prevent them from renaming you.
