Facebook Messenger Adds New Live Location Feature

The messaging platform of the biggest social media network in the world has decided to debut a new feature called Live Location, which basically allows Facebook Messenger users to share for just one hour within a private or group message thread their real time location on a map. The other participants of that message thread will then be able to see an estimate of the time it takes for that user to reach them by car.

According to Selena Wang, the product manager of Live Location, the feature could come quite handy when a user is trying to coordinate with friends, especially when he is on his way to a predetermined location. For families, Live Location can be used by family members to track those in transit or those going home at night or in unfriendly weather. 

The Live Location feature is now being deployed to all users of Facebook Messenger (both on Android and iOS mobile operating systems). If this functionality takes off with the masses, Facebook Messenger could very well give other similar mobiles such as Foursquare Swarm or Down To Lunch a run for their money.

Back in 2015, Facebook had explored another location sharing feature for Messenger but has since saw that effort turn into a privacy scandal, and eventually ditched that project. Live Location is sort of another shot at that idea, but this time, the social media giant is decidedly more careful. For instance, the feature can not be left activated by default.

So how does one go about using Live Location? Well, users need only go to a message thread, then tap the Location button or find it in the More menu. Then on the map, they can tap the blue bar in order to begin sharing their Live Location coordinates. The recipients (i.e. other participants of the message thread) will then be able to see the exact real time location of the sharer on a map for exactly 60 minutes, as well as an estimated time of arrival info detailing how long it will reach them by car. There will be a clock graphic in the corner of the map basically informing everybody in the message thread of the remaining minutes before the location sharing session will end. Also, the session can be ended anytime by tapping Stop Sharing.

For more information on this latest feature on Facebook Messenger, you can also head to this page.