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So, Instagram just rolled out a new “Instagram Map” and it’s not the same as the old “tag a location when you post” thing we’ve always had.
This one lives in your DMs as a little map icon, and if you tap it, Instagram will ask if you want to share your real-time location with specific people (Close Friends, mutuals, or a custom list).
If you opt in, it updates your location whenever you’re using the app, kind of like Snapchat’s Snap Map.
That’s why people are freaking out — it feels way more personal than just tagging “Los Angeles” in a photo.
If that gives you the ick, you can shut it down fast. In your phone’s Settings → Privacy → Location Services, find Instagram and set it to “Never” or “While Using the App.”
You can also check your DMs to make sure you haven’t turned the new map on.
As someone who shares her location with literally dozens of people…even I’m freaked out by this.