Instagram has announced the rollout of a new feature that enables users to share their live locations with friends via direct messages (DMs). This move marks a significant expansion of the Meta-owned social network's capabilities, as it challenges established services like Apple's "Find My" and Snapchat's Snap Map.

The introduction of live location sharing doesn't come as a surprise, given that Instagram was spotted testing this feature earlier this year. Moreover, Meta's other messaging app, WhatsApp, has allowed users to share their live locations with others for quite some time. This development highlights Instagram's efforts to enhance its messaging capabilities and provide users with more ways to connect with each other.

Unlike Apple and Snapchat, which permit users to share their locations indefinitely, Instagram's feature is limited to a one-hour window. According to the company, this feature is designed to facilitate coordination of arrival times or to help users locate their friends in crowded spaces. Users can choose to share their location with a single person or a group chat, and only the recipients in the specific chat will be able to view their location.

Instagram has implemented several safeguards to ensure user privacy. For instance, live locations expire after one hour, and users will see an indicator at the top of the chat to remind them that they are currently sharing their live location. Additionally, shared locations cannot be forwarded to other chats, providing an added layer of security.

The new feature is currently available in select countries, although Instagram has not disclosed the specific regions. TechCrunch has reached out to the company for more information on the rollout.

In addition to live location sharing, Instagram has also introduced the ability for users to customize names in DMs by adding nicknames for themselves or others. This feature can be used to share an inside joke or to simply shorten lengthy usernames. Users can create a nickname by tapping on the chat name at the top of a conversation and then selecting "Nicknames."

Furthermore, Instagram is rolling out 17 new sticker packs with over 300 stickers that users can share in DMs. This expansion of the sticker library is likely to enhance the overall messaging experience on the platform.

The launch of live location sharing and customizable nicknames in DMs underscores Instagram's commitment to enhancing its messaging capabilities and providing users with more ways to connect with each other. As the social media landscape continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Instagram's new features impact user behavior and the overall messaging ecosystem.