Instagram never stops unveiling new functions! The latest is an interactive map that allows you to search and filter content published about nearby places. Competition for Google Maps?
Instagram seeks to establish itself as “the” essential social network and deploys many new functions to achieve this. Recently, Meta’s app turned all their videos into Reels – to compete with TikTok – added a feature to delete your account from your mobile, and even increased the duration of Reels. The latest addition – and available today – was unveiled in a story by Mark Zuckerberg himself. This is a map that allows you to view users’ publications about a particular place thanks to geolocation, and to be able to see what it looks like before you go there thanks to the publications. Even better, you can filter the type of place you are looking for directly on a map, much like Google Maps.
Instagram: an interactive map to find interesting places
The principle is simple: by entering the name of a place in the search bar – a city for example –, the map displays all the content and locations published precisely in the area – provided that the profile is public. The publications displayed are the most popular or the most recent, according to your choice. Thanks to the filters, you can specify what type of place you are looking for: restaurants, bars, shops, hotel, cafes, viewpoints, parks, etc. You can even access sorts of “guides” published by other users, and thus discover the activities to do in the area. If no posts are available, the app will still show basic information, like phone number and website.
It is therefore no longer a question of simply immortalizing the moment spent on the place, but of participating in a community map – and also increasing the number of views of your publication, which influencers should particularly appreciate. The application is transformed into a tourist guide and competes directly with Google Maps. A way to keep its users on Instagram, rather than opening other apps.
How to use Instagram’s new card?
To access this new function, nothing could be simpler!
► Go to the tab Exploresymbolized by a small magnifying glass, at the very bottom.
► In the search bar, fill in the location that interests you.
► Press Premisesrepresented by a marker at the top right.
► The map appears. Select the type of place you are interested in by tapping on the map and selecting the corresponding category. And There you go !
► Note that you can also access this map via any geolocated publication by clicking on the location indicated. You can save certain places to your favourites, by pressing the small icon on the right (which then turns black, as in the screenshot below).
► To find your favourites, go to your profile, then press the menu located in the upper right corner of the screen. Select Checked in.
