Instagram has introduced a new feature called Friends Map, designed to make the app more social and interactive. Similar to Snapchat’s Snap Map, it lets you share your location with friends and see theirs — but with stronger privacy controls.
In this guide, we’ll explain what Friends Map is, how it works, and why it could be useful for both casual users and creators. You’ll also learn safety tips to keep your information private.
Keep reading to find out if Instagram’s Friends Map is the right feature for you.
What is Instagram’s Friends Map?
The Friends Map is a location-sharing feature that lets you share your active Instagram location with selected friends — and see where your friends were last active, too.
So, if you opt in, you’ll share the last place you used the Instagram app.
As I touched on above, this is not a Find my iPhone-type feature that allows you to see where your friends are in real time.
-
Friends Map is opt-in. So if you haven’t actively gone and turned it on, don’t worry: you’re not broadcasting your whereabouts to the world.
-
Even if you do opt in, you can also choose precisely who you share location with — selected friends, Close Friends, or followers who you follow back. ‘Public’ is not an option.
-
The feature is designed to feel lightweight and fun, rather than invasive. Think: a passive way to stay up-to-date with your inner circle or find out what local spots creators are tagging in their content.
Two phone screens showing Instagram’s Friends Map: one with a real-time location map of friends, and another showing a geotagged Reel at a park.
Source: Instagram
Even if you’re not sharing your location, you can still check out the map, which is packed with content. You can browse:
-
Reels, posts, and stories with location tags (from people you follow, which are live for 24 hours)
-
Notes from mutual followers, also available for 24 hours
It’s a bit like a content discovery map — you might stumble upon a friend’s Instagram Story from a concert last night, or find a new coffee shop through a local creator’s reel. It should be a fun way to see what’s going on in your neighborhood.
Left screen shows Instagram DMs with a “Map” tab in stories. Right screen displays the Friends Map, showing real-time friend locations around New York City.
Source: Instagram
Where to find Instagram’s Friends Map
You’ll find the new Friends Map tucked away in your messages inbox.
Tap the direct messages icon in the top right of the app, and look for the Map tab at the top of your inbox. From there, you can:
-
See your friends’ last shared locations (if they’ve opted in)
-
Explore location-tagged posts, stories, reels, and notes from mutuals and creators you follow
-
Update your location sharing settings
If you don’t see it yet, sit tight — the feature is rolling out in the U.S. now, with more countries to follow soon.
How location sharing works
If the idea of broadcasting your whereabouts to the world makes you uneasy, don’t worry — Instagram Friends map isn’t that. (Or, it’s not supposed to be, at least.)
Instagram has built in several privacy controls to make this experience safer:
-
You choose who sees your location: Followers you follow back, Close Friends, a custom list, or no one at all.
-
You can exclude certain places or people: Going somewhere sensitive? You can disable location sharing for specific spots or individuals. If I do end up turning this feature on, I’ll definitely be setting my home as off-limits.
-
Location is only updated when you open the app: Or when it’s running in the background and you return to it.
-
Parents of teens have extra controls: With supervision set up, they’ll be notified if a teen starts sharing their location — and can see who they’re sharing with. Teen accounts are for those between 13 and 17 years old.
When does your location appear on the app? According to Instagram, “If you share your location, it will update each time you open Instagram. Your location disappears after 24 hours, unless you open the app again.”
While I couldn’t find confirmation of this, it seems implied that your location will appear immediately when you open the app, if you have opted in.
There are more serious safety concerns to consider here, too (so please do read the paragraph below).
Staying safe with Friends Map
As fun as social maps can be, sharing your location always comes with considerations — especially if you’re using Instagram as a public-facing creator or business.
While the new feature has garnered plenty of excitement, Friends Map wasn’t launched without criticism — all of it due to safety concerns.
Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind:
- Only share your location with people you trust. Use a custom list for extra safety. Your mutual follows and Close Friends group may include people you don’t want to see your whereabouts.
- Review your Close Friends list. Sharing with Close Friends sounds simple, but Instagram’s definition may differ from yours. Check your list and update it if needed.
- Be selective about when and where you share. Pause location sharing for sensitive places, like your home or office. You can switch it off anytime.
- Update your app and settings regularly. Double-check both Instagram and your phone’s system settings to stay in control.
- Parents: monitor teen accounts with supervision tools. Instagram notifies you if your teen enables location sharing and shows who they’re sharing with.
As with any feature that uses personal data, review your settings before opting in. Revisit them from time to time to make sure they still match your preferences.
Could Friends Map be useful for brands and creators?
There’s a lot of potential here for some creative marketing and brand partnerships, and only time will tell how this feature will be leveraged. As I’ve been researching the new feature (I don’t yet have access in South Africa), some ideas have sparked:
-
Location-tagged content is now even more discoverable: Reels, posts, and stories that include a location tag can now show up on the map — adding another way for your content to get discovered by followers. If you’re a local business, this makes Friends Map a no-brainer.
-
Community building can happen IRL: For creators with Close Friends groups or smaller communities, this could be a fun, exclusive way to share behind-the-scenes updates from specific places (think: events, meetups, pop-ups).
-
More reasons to post Instagram Stories and Notes: Since stories and notes are eligible for the map (as long as they’re location-tagged), this gives those short-lived formats a bit more staying power — and another place to get seen.
-
Another layer to brand partnerships?: Friends Map could be another interesting marketing option for brick-and-mortar businesses to partner with creators.
For example, if I were a beauty brand working on a pop-up event, I might want to offer creators a smaller fee to appear at the launch — so the venue shows up in their mutual followers map. No content required: all they’ll have to do is open Instagram.
Why Don’t I Have Friends Map on Instagram?
If you don’t see the Friends Map tab in your inbox, don’t worry. This feature is currently rolling out in the U.S. first and will expand to other countries later. That means you may need to wait a little while before it appears on your account.
In the meantime, here are a few things you can try to make sure you’re ready:
-
Update the Instagram app to the latest version in the App Store or Google Play.
-
Log out and log back in to refresh your account features.
-
Clear the app cache (on Android) or reinstall the app if necessary.
-
Keep in mind that Instagram often releases features in waves to test with different groups of users.
Once Friends Map becomes available in your region, it will appear automatically in your inbox.
Final Thoughts
Instagram’s Friends Map is a fun way to stay connected and discover what’s happening nearby. With its privacy controls, you can decide exactly who sees your location and when. For friends, creators, and even local businesses, this feature adds a new layer of connection on Instagram.
Still, it’s important to be mindful of safety. Always review your settings, share only with people you trust, and update your preferences often.
If you’re curious, try out Friends Map and see how it fits into your Instagram experience.