Explained: What is Instagram Maps feature and how it works - All you need to know!

Instagram maps: Meta-owned Popular photo and video sharing social networking service Instagram on Wednesday announced the global rollout of a new Maps experience that allows people to discover popularly tagged locations around them.  Among other things, the feature could boost the discovery of local small businesses on Instagram by allowing people to filter the locations by specific categories such as restaurants, cafes, and beauty salons, the brand said. 

 According to Instagram, the dynamic, searchable maps help people discover popular locations and see what’s happening nearby via tagged posts, stories, and guides shared by the Instagram community. People can also find relevant locations on the map when searching certain hashtags. The feature was launched in Japan a year ago, and has been globally rolled out today.

How To Use Instagram Maps? 

- Find a place

- Discover a new place by tapping location tags in Feed or Stories content.

- Search the name of a city, neighbourhood, or place in Explore. Hashtag search is also available for local hashtags (e.g. #newdelhi).

- Previous stories you've posted that include a location sticker can also be viewed via map in the Stories archive.

- Browse recent stories, top posts, and relevant guides of tagged locations to learn more.

- Filter by location categories to narrow your search.

- Plan for later

- Save locations to a collection to revisit in the future.

- Share places via direct message to friends or groups.

- Use location tags or stickers in your content and it will appear on the map (if your profile is public).
 
In related news, Instagram has announced that it will allow shoppers in the US to be able to pay for products directly in messages.
The company said it wants to help people start conversations with businesses they care about and help them find and buy products they love in an easy, seamless experience, right from the chat thread.

"We are introducing a new way to make a purchase on Instagram -- right where you chat," the company said in a blogpost. Finally, you will be able to use Meta Pay to complete purchases, making checkout even easier in just a few taps," it added.

Using this new feature, small business owners will be able to chat with customers in real-time to answer questions and confirm purchase details.