Meta launches Instagram Map in Pakistan with enhanced privacy features

Meta has announced the rollout of the Instagram Map feature in Pakistan, offering users an interactive way to explore location-based content while maintaining strong privacy protections.

The feature, launched on October 4, appears at the top of users’ direct message inboxes and enables them to share their location, view posts, reels, stories, and notes tagged with specific places. This allows users to discover what friends and creators are sharing from nearby venues such as restaurants, concerts, and cafes.

Meta said location sharing is turned off by default, and users can choose whether to share their last active location with selected friends, close friends, or no one. The feature includes a visible indicator showing when location sharing is active, along with reminders when adding location tags.

Parents supervising teens on Instagram will have tools to manage and review their child’s sharing preferences.

According to Meta, the updated Instagram Map also removes profile photos from public map content, clarifies indicators when location sharing is off, and offers a preview of how tagged posts will appear.

The rollout follows Instagram’s earlier updates aimed at improving user engagement, including the introduction of a repost function, a “Friends” tab in Reels, and enhanced tools for location-based discovery.