Instagram is now allowing users to share their live-location with friends. While this feature is already in use on other social media channels, it is new to Instagram. The feature works within Instagram’s direct messages, which also get a few other new features including sticker packs and nicknames.

Now in your DMs, you can share your live location up to 1 hour or pin a location on a map to coordinate arrival times, activities or find each other in crowded places – concerts, outings -Perfect for parties or other gatherings with friends. Spend more time together, and less time coordinating.

Instagram’s live-location feature lets you privately share your real-time location via DM in individual or group chats. It is closed by default, lasts for one hour, and can only be seen by participants in the specific chat – ensuring that it cannot be forwarded elsewhere. A visual indicator at the top of the chat reminds you when live location sharing is active, and you can stop sharing at any time. This feature is designed with privacy in mind, making it a secure way to share your location with trusted friends or family. Always use it responsibly and only with people you trust.

Location sharing features are currently only available in select countries, but the list is unknown yet.

New stickers and nickname feature

Instagram has introduced 17 new sticker packs, offering over 300 fun stickers to spice up your DMs when you fall short of words. You can now use favorite stickers directly from chats, making it easy to reuse stickers shared by friends or created using Cutouts. Whether you’re expressing emotion or adding excitement to conversations, these stickers ensure that your messages stand out and remain personal. It’s time to let creativity shine in your DMs!

Instagram now lets you personalize DMs by adding nicknames for yourself or friends. Use them to share inside jokes, simplify long usernames, or add a personal touch to your chats. Nicknames appear only in your DMs and do not affect usernames elsewhere. You can change them at any time and decide who can update nicknames in chat—by default people you follow or limited to just you.

To create a nickname, tap the chat name at the top of your conversation. Then, tap Nickname and the username of the person for whom you want to add a nickname to the chat.