Instagram introduces feature that makes your communication more comfortable
Instagram adds the ability to share real-time location in direct messages (Illustrative photo: Unsplash)
Instagram has introduced a feature allowing users to share their location with friends via direct messages (DM), according to the technology news site TechCrunch.
Details of the new feature
This feature indicates that the Meta-owned social network aims to challenge services like Apple's Locator and Snapchat's Snap Map, which are popular ways for users to track the locations of their friends and loved ones.
The launch of the feature was not entirely unexpected, as earlier this year Instagram was spotted testing a method that allows users to see their friends' locations in real-time. It is worth noting that another Meta messaging app, WhatsApp, has long allowed users to share their location in real-time with others.
Unlike Apple and Snapchat, which allow users to share their location indefinitely, Instagram limits this feature to one hour. The company says this feature can be used to coordinate arrival times or find friends in crowded places.
You can share your location with an individual or a group chat. Once you do this, only people in the specific chat will be able to see your location, and your location cannot be forwarded to other conversations. You will also see an indicator at the top of the chat reminding you that you're currently sharing your location in real-time.
On Monday, Instagram also announced that users can now customize names in Direct by adding nicknames for themselves or others. You can create a nickname by tapping the chat name at the top of the conversation and selecting Nicknames. From there, you can choose the username of the person you'd like to give a nickname to. Nicknames are only visible in your chats.
You can share geolocation on Instagram (photo: TechCrunch)
