[ad_1]
Instagram offers the ability for users to share their locations with their friends via the company’s direct messages (DMs). Announce on monday. The feature signals that the Meta-owned social network is looking to challenge services like Apple’s “Find My” and Snapchat’s Snap Map, both popular ways for users to see the live locations of their friends and loved ones.
The launch of the feature doesn’t come as a complete surprise, as Instagram was spotted testing a way for users to see their friends’ live locations earlier this year. It’s worth noting that Meta’s other messaging app, WhatsApp, has allowed users to share their live locations with others for some time.
Unlike Apple and Snapchat, which let you share your location with others indefinitely, Instagram only allows users to do so for up to one hour. Instagram says the feature can be used to coordinate access times or to find your friends in crowded places.
You can choose to share your location with one person, or through a group chat. Once you share your location, only people in the specific chat will be able to see where you are, and your location cannot be redirected to other chats. You’ll also see an indicator at the top of the chat to remind you that you’re currently sharing your live location.
All live spots expire after 1 hour. Since WhatsApp allows you to share your location with others for up to eight hours, the time limit for sharing location on Instagram will likely change in the future.
The company said that the new feature is available in specific countries. TechCrunch has reached out for more details.
Instagram also announced Monday that users can now customize names in direct messages by adding nicknames for themselves or others. The company says the feature can be used to share an inside joke or simply shorten long usernames.
You can create a nickname by clicking on the chat name at the top of the conversation and then selecting Nicknames. From there, you can select the username of the person you want to assign a nickname to. Nicknames only appear in your DM conversations.
Additionally, Instagram is rolling out 17 new sticker packs containing more than 300 stickers that you can share via direct messages.
[ad_2]