Top 3 Key Points:
- Instagram’s New Map Feature: Instagram is testing a map-based feature similar to Snap Maps, allowing users to share location-based updates with friends.
- Privacy Controls: Unlike Snap Maps, Instagram’s version offers more controlled sharing, focusing on safety and limited visibility.
- YouTube’s Misinformation Tool: YouTube is testing a new feature called ‘Viewers’ Notes’ to help combat misinformation by allowing users to clarify content through community-driven notes.
Instagram is experimenting with a new feature that resembles Snap Maps, enabling users to share text and video updates on a map based on where they were created. This feature lets friends see each other’s posts in a map format, similar to the Snap Maps feature that Snapchat introduced in 2017. However, Instagram’s version seems to offer more restricted privacy options. Users must choose specific groups, like “Close Friends” or followers they follow back, to share their location with, according to Christine Pai, a Meta spokesperson.
Currently, this feature is only available as a small test in select regions. The tool is opt-in, meaning users can decide whether to use it, and it includes controls to manage who sees their location. Pai emphasized that the feature is being built with safety as a priority, though there’s no immediate plan for public sharing or details on how long posts will remain visible.
This isn’t Instagram’s first venture into map-based features. Back in 2012, Instagram had a private photo map that displayed users’ photos based on where they were taken. Although this feature was discontinued in 2016 due to low usage, Instagram has a history of adopting ideas from competitors, like Stories from Snapchat and Reels from TikTok. This new map feature could be seen as another example of this trend.
Meanwhile, YouTube, owned by Google, is rolling out a new tool to combat misinformation. The platform is testing ‘Viewers’ Notes,’ a feature that allows users to flag content they find misleading or confusing. This feature is similar to X’s (formerly Twitter) Community Notes and enables users to submit notes to clarify or provide additional context to a video. Other community members can then vote on whether these notes should be displayed under the video.
Google announced this feature in June 2024 and has started testing it with a limited number of users. Currently, ‘Viewers’ Notes’ is only available on smartphones and tablets, but it could be expanded to other platforms after successful testing. YouTube encourages users to provide neutral, well-sourced notes that directly address claims made in the video. The note will only be shown if enough users find it helpful.
This combination of features from Instagram and YouTube shows how social media platforms continue to evolve, borrowing successful ideas from competitors and addressing emerging challenges like misinformation.
