Instagram, owned by Meta, is working on a new feature called “Friend Map,” which is similar to Snap Map, according to media reports. This feature is said to include a world map interface, allowing users to see their friends’ most recent whereabouts. According to leaked information, users will be able to see others positioned across the map based on shared location data. Users can also actively participate by placing themselves on the map using location-specific posts.
Alessandro Paluzzi, a mobile developer, shared information about this feature on X (formerly Twitter), including several screenshots of Friend Map. Paluzzi stated that “Instagram continues to develop “Friend map,” which shows your friends on a map. If accurate, this feature could bring a new interface to the social media platform, potentially serving as a novel way for users to discover nearby individuals and accounts.
Paluzzi also revisited a previous post from October 2023 that featured a new Stories icon called “Nearby.” The informant suggested that this could also be related to the Friend Map functionality. Although details are scarce, it’s possible that posts from nearby users for the Friend Map will be directly accessible via this icon.
Based on the images, Friend Map appears to display a global map of a user’s friends if they share their location data. The screenshots suggest that users can annotate the map. This functionality may resemble the Notes feature in the Direct Message section. If the leak is accurate, users could have up to three options for sharing updates: Stories, Notes, and Map Notes. The screenshot included a message encouraging users to “find a new excuse to share what’s happening wherever you are.”