How to use (or turn off) your Instagram Map
If you already spend a lot of time on Instagram and are looking for a way to see where your friends have been, it's worth familiarizing yourself with how Instagram Map works. And if you're worried about what information Instagram is broadcasting without your knowledge, you might as well get comfortable with the feature's settings. Here's how to do both in the Instagram app. How to use Instagram Map Screenshots of the Instagram Map, the location settings, and the DMs menu with a link to the Map. (Ian Carlos Campbell for Engadget)
To access Instagram Map, you'll have to head to the DMs section of Instagram, and then tap on the Map icon in the top row of status icons. The first time you tap on the map, Instagram will walk you through how Instagram Map shares your location, and why Location Services needs to be enabled for it will work. Then, if you're not already sharing your location with Instagram, you'll receive a pop-up from your phone asking if you want to share your location. Tapping through that will take you to the map itself.
The majority of the Instagram Map is taken up by a map displaying your current location, with a search bar at the bottom for looking up the location of your friends. Scroll around for a bit and your might see a profile picture marking a friend's current location, or miniature posts tagged with a specific location. There's a few basic things you can do with Instagram Map: Swipe around and see friends' posts displayed geographically
Use the search bar to find a friend's current location or recent tagged posts
Tap on a friend to be taken to their profile, or a post to see it in full
Instagram Map is primarily informational. It can tell your where your friends are or where they've recently been, and let you view content based on where it was posted. It's really not much more complicated then that. Unless you're picky about who can see your location. How to stop sharing your location with Instagram Map A screenshot of the various location settings available in Instagram Map. (Ian Carlos Campbell for Engadget)
Sharing your location on Instagram Map is opt-in. Your current location won't be shared on Instagram unless you actively choose to share it. What will be there are any posts that have a location tagged in them, something that's an option every time you add photos and videos to your Stories or your grid.
Instagram gives you four different sharing options for the Map. You can share with: Friends: Followers that you follow back
Close Friends: Followers already in your Close Friends list
Only these friends: Specific people you choose
No one: Don't share your location (except for posts with tagged locations)
So to disable location sharing entirely in Instagram Map, or change who can see your location:
Tap on the DMs icon in the top-right corner.
Tap on the Location Settings menu (shaped like a gear) in the top-right corner.
And then tap on "No one", to disable location sharing.
To change who you share your location with, follow the same steps except instead of choosing "No one," choose one of the other options Instagram offers. Three screenshots showing the location settings, the Hidden Places introduction text and the menu for adding a new Hidden Place. (Ian Carlos Campbell for Engadget)
For even more granular control over location sharing, you can also add specific locations to a list of "Hidden Places" that will never appear on Instagram Map while you're visiting. If you want to modify that list, open the Map feature, then:
Tap on Location Settings (the gear icon) in the top-right corner.
Tap on the three-dot menu in the corner of the settings menu.
Tap and drag a pin on the map to mark a hidden place, and then set a radius around it with the slider.
Type in the name of the place and then tap Done.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
After Recent Earnings, What's the Investment Thesis for Snap Now?
Key Points Snap's slower second-quarter growth compared to its peers includes an important footnote. The company's willingness to perpetually evolve and improve its app is no minor detail. Some of these efforts will pay off. Snap is just going to need a bit of time to prove its approach is increasingly marketable. 10 stocks we like better than Snap › It's been a rough past few days for Snap (NYSE: SNAP) shareholders. The Snapchat parent's stock is trading down more than 20% since posting its second-quarter numbers last Tuesday, in fact, and still testing lower lows. The company's revenue miss clearly rattled investors. The question is, is yet another disappointing quarter enough of a reason to finally give up on Snap? Or is this stock's recent setback a chance to step into a compelling story at an even better price? Snap's second-quarter numbers Snap's Snapchat app is a social media platform, albeit a very different one than Meta Platforms' Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter). Namely, Snapchat doesn't feature a "news" feed like X and Facebook do in the center of their user interfaces. Snapchat's focus is instead on messaging and sharing pictures specifically with friends. The core business is still ultimately the same as any social media site's, though: advertising. More users and usage of the Snapchat app means more opportunities to monetize the platform. And Snap did a fair amount of business during the three-month stretch ending in June. The top line of $1.34 billion for the recently ended quarter was up 9% year over year, lifted by a 9% increase in the average number of daily users (469 million) and 7% growth in average monthly users (932 million). Most of that user growth took shape outside of Europe and North America. Although the company remains in the red with a reported net loss of $262.6 million, or $0.16 per share, free cash flow swung from a negative $73.4 million to a positive $23.8 million this time around. Problem? The analyst community was calling for a top line of $1.35 billion and a per-share loss of $0.15, matching the year-ago quarter's loss. Sales growth guidance for the third quarter (now underway) was in line with estimates, but investors also noticed that these numbers still trail those being reported by Meta and other social media companies. In addition, "an issue related to our ad platform" crimped both the top and bottom lines by underpricing Snap's ad inventory. A company as developed as Snap shouldn't face such self-created glitches. Nevertheless, this stock's subsequent setback is far more of an opportunity than an omen. (Much) more to like in the long run than not Snap's got plenty to figure out. Even while the technical glitch was temporary, it's concerning that user growth has outright stalled in North America and Europe, where average per-user revenue is highest. It's also simply not growing as briskly as its rival platforms are, and perhaps never will. As RBC Capital Markets analyst Brad Erickson noted, last quarter's numbers "will continue to reinforce the bear case that Snap cannot break out of being a smaller ad platform lacking the ability to durably grow its direct response business in line with the market." Just don't lose sight of the bigger, longer-term picture. And that picture is still pretty bullish for a handful of reasons. One of those reasons is Snap's never-ending willingness to learn from its past failures as well as past successes, and then evolve as merited. Case in point: In June, the company announced the augmented reality glasses it's been working on for a while now will be ready for launch sometime in 2026. Its first go-around with "Spectacles" back in 2016 ended up being a bit of a disaster. But those glasses were only a camera, and AR technology has come a long way since then. Undeterred by its previous flop, Snap's next shot at stand-alone hardware is a reasonable risk. In the meantime, the company's doing something far more practical by adding artificial intelligence-powered tools (including AI-generated ads) to its advertisers' toolkit. Its relatively new Sponsored "Snaps" are also producing 20% more conversions than ordinary ads. Perhaps the overarching argument for betting on beaten-down SNAP shares despite them going nowhere since their 2021/2022 rout is that Snapchat still has a long growth path ahead of it. It's difficult to quantify, or even see. But the world is growing weary of the toxicity on Facebook and X. Consumers are increasingly looking for alternative online gathering places where they're in control of what they're exposed to. They're finding less-crowded and more decentralized corners of the web on platforms like Discord, Bluesky, and yes, Snapchat. Indeed, the Snapchat app lends itself to providing what its biggest cohort of users -- the Gen Z crowd, ages 16 to 30 -- craves to the point of demanding it: advertiser authenticity. According to recent research from Target's retail media network Roundel, 73% of Gen Z regularly watch influencers' shopping videos. That's more than 40% above the average. And website hosting service provider WPEngine says 82% of Gen Z is more likely to trust a company that uses real people (like Snapchat's creators) rather than paid actors in its ads. Ads on Facebook and X tend to lack this authenticity, while Snapchat's heavily featured ads from the platform's well-followed creators is about as authentic as it gets. Focus on the long-term marketability of the business It's tough to get excited about buying into any promising business while that business's results are lackluster, and Snap's are. The stock's lingering lethargy isn't helping the bull thesis either. Just bear in mind something that Warren Buffett said long ago that still applies in the modern market environment: "If you aren't thinking about owning a stock for 10 years, don't even think about owning it for 10 minutes." Snapchat's got the right idea and formula. It's just going to take a while to prove it. It's going to take even longer for the market to fully see it. On the other hand, as other investors increasingly do see it, they'll at least start pricing in Snap's promising future. That's why it might be wiser to go ahead and wade into a position now while nobody else is thinking about doing the same. As Buffett has also said, "Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful." You can control your total risk just by adjusting the size of the Snap stake you take on. Should you buy stock in Snap right now? Before you buy stock in Snap, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Snap wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $663,630!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,115,695!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,071% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 185% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of August 13, 2025 James Brumley has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Meta Platforms and Target. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. After Recent Earnings, What's the Investment Thesis for Snap Now? was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
Engadget
a day ago
- Engadget
How to use (or turn off) your Instagram Map
Instagram Map, the new Instagram feature copying Snapchat's Snap Map, makes it simple to share your location with friends. So simple you might not understand who you're sharing it without digging into your settings. That's naturally led to confusion from some Instagram users as to how the feature works. If you already spend a lot of time on Instagram and are looking for a way to see where your friends have been, it's worth familiarizing yourself with how Instagram Map works. And if you're worried about what information Instagram is broadcasting without your knowledge, you might as well get comfortable with the feature's settings. Here's how to do both in the Instagram app. How to use Instagram Map Screenshots of the Instagram Map, the location settings, and the DMs menu with a link to the Map. (Ian Carlos Campbell for Engadget) To access Instagram Map, you'll have to head to the DMs section of Instagram, and then tap on the Map icon in the top row of status icons. The first time you tap on the map, Instagram will walk you through how Instagram Map shares your location, and why Location Services needs to be enabled for it will work. Then, if you're not already sharing your location with Instagram, you'll receive a pop-up from your phone asking if you want to share your location. Tapping through that will take you to the map itself. The majority of the Instagram Map is taken up by a map displaying your current location, with a search bar at the bottom for looking up the location of your friends. Scroll around for a bit and your might see a profile picture marking a friend's current location, or miniature posts tagged with a specific location. There's a few basic things you can do with Instagram Map: Swipe around and see friends' posts displayed geographically Use the search bar to find a friend's current location or recent tagged posts Tap on a friend to be taken to their profile, or a post to see it in full Instagram Map is primarily informational. It can tell your where your friends are or where they've recently been, and let you view content based on where it was posted. It's really not much more complicated then that. Unless you're picky about who can see your location. How to stop sharing your location with Instagram Map A screenshot of the various location settings available in Instagram Map. (Ian Carlos Campbell for Engadget) Sharing your location on Instagram Map is opt-in. Your current location won't be shared on Instagram unless you actively choose to share it. What will be there are any posts that have a location tagged in them, something that's an option every time you add photos and videos to your Stories or your grid. Instagram gives you four different sharing options for the Map. You can share with: Friends: Followers that you follow back Close Friends: Followers already in your Close Friends list Only these friends: Specific people you choose No one: Don't share your location (except for posts with tagged locations) So to disable location sharing entirely in Instagram Map, or change who can see your location: Tap on the DMs icon in the top-right corner. Tap on the Location Settings menu (shaped like a gear) in the top-right corner. And then tap on "No one", to disable location sharing. To change who you share your location with, follow the same steps except instead of choosing "No one," choose one of the other options Instagram offers. Three screenshots showing the location settings, the Hidden Places introduction text and the menu for adding a new Hidden Place. (Ian Carlos Campbell for Engadget) For even more granular control over location sharing, you can also add specific locations to a list of "Hidden Places" that will never appear on Instagram Map while you're visiting. If you want to modify that list, open the Map feature, then: Tap on Location Settings (the gear icon) in the top-right corner. Tap on the three-dot menu in the corner of the settings menu. Tap and drag a pin on the map to mark a hidden place, and then set a radius around it with the slider. Type in the name of the place and then tap Done.
Time Business News
a day ago
- Time Business News
Best Ways to View Instagram Stories Anonymously Without Getting Caught
Instagram Stories are one of the platform's most popular features, allowing users to share moments that disappear after 24 hours. But sometimes you might want to watch a Story without letting the creator know. Whether it's for personal privacy, market research, or avoiding awkward social situations, viewing Stories anonymously is something many users want to do. The challenge is that Instagram automatically logs every account that views a Story, so unless you take special precautions, your presence will be visible. Fortunately, there are reliable ways to browse Stories privately. When you tap on a Story, Instagram's system records your account name instantly and adds it to the creator's viewer list. This log remains available to the creator for the full 24 hours the Story is active. Even muting someone or setting your account to private won't stop your name from appearing if you watch their Story. There's no official setting within Instagram to disable this tracking, which is why users turn to outside solutions. Knowing how the system works is the first step in avoiding detection because it helps you choose a method that prevents Instagram from linking the view to your account. Not all anonymous Story viewers are trustworthy. Many websites advertise free viewing services but ask for your Instagram username and password, which is a major red flag. Providing login details to an unknown third party can result in account hacking or data theft. Some sites install tracking scripts or malware onto your device, putting your privacy and security at risk. The safest options are tools that do not require any login, operate entirely in your web browser, and have a reputation for protecting user data. Avoid any service that forces you to download unknown software or apps just to view a Story anonymously. One of the most reliable ways to watch Stories privately is through Dolphin Radar and its Instagram Story Viewer Anonymous feature. This tool works without logging in to Instagram, so your account information remains safe. It allows you to watch Stories, Highlights, and even regular posts from any public profile without appearing on their viewer list. The process is simple: open Dolphin Radar in your browser, enter the username of the account you want to view, and access their Stories instantly. The platform works across devices, requires no downloads, and even lets you save Stories or Highlights for later viewing. Because it bypasses Instagram's tracking entirely, your viewing activity remains invisible. There are several ways people try to watch Stories privately, each with its own pros and cons. Using a secondary Instagram account can work, but it requires maintaining another profile, which can still be linked to you if you're not careful. The airplane mode trick sometimes allows you to view Stories without being recorded, but it often fails once you reconnect to the internet, and Instagram still logs your activity in many cases. Asking a friend to send screenshots is another option, but it's dependent on someone else and doesn't allow real-time viewing. Compared to these methods, using a secure, no-login browser tool like Dolphin Radar is faster, more reliable, and safer for long-term use. Even if you have the ability to watch Instagram Stories without being seen, it's important to consider the ethics of doing so. Anonymous viewing can be useful for professional research, such as monitoring competitors or studying marketing trends. It can also help you protect your privacy if you prefer to consume content without engaging. However, using this ability to stalk, harass, or invade someone's personal space is not only unethical but could be illegal in some situations. Always use anonymous viewing responsibly and respect the boundaries of others, just as you would expect them to respect yours. Viewing Stories anonymously is just one step toward protecting your online privacy. You can further safeguard your activity by using a secure browser, enabling a VPN to mask your IP address, and regularly clearing cookies and browsing history. Avoid logging in to your Instagram account on shared or public devices, as this can leave traces of your activity. Be mindful of what you post on your own Stories and consider adjusting your privacy settings to control who can see your content. Combining these practices with a trusted anonymous viewer like Dolphin Radar can give you full control over your Instagram interactions. Watching Instagram Stories without being seen is possible with the right tools and techniques. While traditional methods like secondary accounts or airplane mode have limitations, modern solutions like Dolphin Radar and its Instagram Story Viewer Anonymous feature offer a safe, secure, and easy way to maintain your privacy. The key is to choose methods that don't compromise your account or personal information. Anonymous viewing, when used ethically, can give you greater control over your digital presence without crossing boundaries. In an era where online activity is constantly monitored, having the option to view content privately is an important part of managing your social media experience. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
