Instagram Friend Map feature sparks privacy questions

Instagram has introduced three new features to help you share more easily with friends: Friend Map, Repost, and a Friends tab in Reels. While all three are designed to boost connection, one in particular, the Friend Map, has sparked some privacy misconceptions.

While the Friend Map has been welcomed by some, it’s also fueling misconceptions online. Social media posts have spread confusion about whether it shares your live location by default, prompting questions about how much control you really have.

Here’s what these new tools actually do, how they work, and what you need to know before using them.

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The new Repost feature lets you share public reels and feed posts directly with your followers. Your reposts appear both in their feeds and in a dedicated tab on your profile, making it easy to revisit your favorites.

Creators benefit, too. When someone reposts your content, it can reach that person’s followers, even if they don’t follow you, opening the door to new audiences.

To repost, tap the repost icon, add an optional note, and save. The post will credit the original creator so everyone knows where it came from.

Friend Map allows you to opt in to sharing your last active location with a select group of friends. You can choose from options like friends you follow back, Close Friends, or a custom list. You can also turn location sharing off at any time.

Privacy matters here. A Meta spokesperson told us:

“Instagram Map is off by default, and your live location is never shared unless you choose to turn it on. If you do, only people you follow back—or a private, custom list you select—can see your location.”

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Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri also clarified that tagging a location in your story only shares that place with your followers for 24 hours, it does not reveal your real-time location.

If you’re a parent with supervision tools enabled, you’ll be notified if your teen turns on location sharing. You can also disable the feature for them.

Location updates occur when you open the app or return to it from the background. Beyond location sharing, the map also lets you explore stories, reels, and notes tagged with a location from friends and creators you follow.

The Friends tab in Reels shows you the public content your friends have liked, commented on, reposted, or created. You can also see recommendations from Blends you’ve joined.

You’ll have controls to hide your own likes or comments and mute activity from certain people. This makes it easy to keep your feed focused on what you enjoy.

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If you love staying connected on Instagram, these tools give you more ways to share and discover content with people you care about. But the Friend Map feature demands extra attention. If you decide to turn it on, take time to customize your sharing settings. Think about who really needs to see your location and review your choices regularly. For parents, this is a good opportunity to talk with teens about online privacy.

Instagram’s latest features are a mix of fun and function. Reposts make it easier to share what inspires you, Friends tab helps spark conversations, and Friend Map opens the door to spontaneous meetups, but only if you manage privacy wisely. The good news: you’re in control of what you share and with whom.

So, would you trade a little privacy for more connection with friends on Instagram? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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