The update is already available in Portugal, but location sharing is disabled by default, meaning the map will only show the location of users who have it enabled.

When the update was announced in August, it raised several questions about user privacy.

At the time, the social network explained that activating this feature requires a double-check of consent, meaning that after users choose to share their location, the app confirms that they agree to the terms.

Now, speaking to Lusa news agency, Tito de Morais, co-founder of the "Agarrados à Net" project, explains that the new feature brings some benefits, as it "can increase engagement with people or help find businesses," taking into account the closest location.

Co-founder Cristiane Miranda warns of the risks of real-time location sharing.

"Anyone who shares their location in real time is putting themselves at risk," she says.

Furthermore, "young people already have a tendency to share their locations, even on WhatsApp and other social networks, so there may be a risk of social pressure from friends."

The co-founder also emphasizes the danger of overexposure, the constant need to share what one is doing, sometimes without distinguishing between friends and acquaintances.

Although the location feature is disabled by default, Cristiane Miranda explains that "young people often experiment a lot and can experiment without realizing the risk."

Cristiane Miranda says that the launch of "Instagram Map" is "an excellent opportunity to talk to kids about privacy issues and the importance of keeping accounts private."

Meta's new feature allows users to choose whether to share with all friends and followers, only with "close friends," a list that can be edited by the user, or a more restricted list where users can select who they want to share their location with.