Syed Maisam Ali

ISLAMABAD: Meta has rolled out Instagram Map in Pakistan, introducing an immersive way for users to discover stories, reels, posts, and notes tagged to local spots. From bustling caf&eacute;s to concerts, all while keeping privacy controls firmly in place. The new feature helps people &ldquo;find what friends and favorite creators are sharing from local hangouts,&rdquo; according to a statement via Media Matter, the PR agency representing Meta in Pakistan, on Saturday. Importantly, location sharing is turned off by default, with users able to share their last active location only with selected friends, close friends, or no one at all. A clear indicator at the top of the map shows when location sharing is active, while reminders appear when adding tags. Meta has also refined the Instagram Map experience by removing profile photos from map content, making it clearer when location is off, and adding preview options for tagged posts. Parents, too, are given tools to supervise teens, ensuring safer sharing practices.<figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/d85c92fa-07cd-44c7-85b7-6460d74dab2c-PR Image 2 (1).png" alt="PR Image 2 (1).png" class="fr-fil fr-dib"></figure> The launch comes at a time when Pakistan has become one of Meta&rsquo;s fastest-growing markets.&nbsp; Facebook currently reaches an estimated 49 million users across the country, while Instagram has around 19 million active users, making it a key platform for both youth culture and emerging digital businesses, according to the DataReportal&rsquo;s Digital 2025: Pakistan report. WhatsApp, however, remains the undisputed leader: the messaging app is used by over 52 million Pakistanis, reflecting its dominance as the country&rsquo;s primary tool for communication. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/937963de-49a2-47b1-bd58-751d7d11faab-PR Image 1 (1).png" alt="PR Image 1 (1).png" class="fr-fil fr-dib"></figure> These numbers highlight not just Meta&rsquo;s deep penetration in Pakistan&rsquo;s digital ecosystem but also the enormous potential for features like Instagram Map, which blend social discovery with real-world connections.

Artificial Intelligence

Nearly 19 million Pakistanis use Instagram, making it one of Meta’s fastest-growing platforms in the country. To deepen engagement, Meta has launched Instagram Map, helping users explore location-tagged content with strict privacy protections.

Instagram Map debuts in Pakistan, connecting 19M users to local moments

MADRID: Facebook owner Meta on Wednesday defended its advertising model in a 550-million-euro trial in Spain over alleged breaches of EU data protection rules brought by more than 80 Spanish media organizations.&nbsp;EU rules oblige companies to obtain users&#39; consent to create personalized advertising from their data.&nbsp;Spain&#39;s main media association AMI says the US tech giant, which also owns Instagram and WhatsApp, created &quot;unfair competition&quot; by &quot;systematically&quot; breaking the law between May 2018 and July 2023.&nbsp;The association launched a lawsuit alleging unfair competition in digital advertising sales and is seeking 551 million euros ($647 million) in compensation.&nbsp;&quot;This isn&#39;t a case that affects only AMI&#39;s outlets, it has implications for media worldwide,&quot; AMI director general Irene Lanzaco told reporters before entering the Madrid commercial court where the trial will run until Thursday.&nbsp;&quot;What&#39;s at stake is the very survival of news media, which is being threatened by the predatory behaviour of a platform like Meta, acting with no regard for our legal framework.&quot;&nbsp;Meta has denied any damage or violation of EU rules, saying in a statement sent to AFP the AMI lawsuit &quot;is not based on any evidence regarding the alleged harm.&quot;&nbsp;AMI is &quot;deliberately ignoring the evolution of the advertising industry over the past few years,&quot; Meta added.&nbsp;&quot;Meta complies with all applicable laws and has provided clear options, transparent information, and a wide range of tools for users to control their experience on our services.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#39;Huge investment&#39;&nbsp;&nbsp;Meta executives told Wednesday&#39;s hearing that user data mattered less than algorithms to generate the personalized advertising.&nbsp;&quot;We have invested a huge amount&quot; so that advertising reaches the consumer, unlike traditional media, said Beltran Seoane of Facebook Spain, responsible for relations with advertising agencies.&nbsp;Tools developed by Meta &quot;are just as important or more so than the data per se&quot;, added Facebook representative David Saez.&nbsp;Expert reports and closing arguments are expected on Thursday.&nbsp;Media groups represented by AMI include Prisa, owner of Spain&#39;s top-selling daily newspaper El Pais; Godo, publisher of the Barcelona-based daily La Vanguardia; Vocento, which publishes the conservative daily ABC; and Unidad Editorial, whose titles include El Mundo and sports daily Marca.&nbsp;Spanish radio and television stations have launched a separate lawsuit against Meta for the same reasons, seeking 160 million euros in damages.&nbsp;A similar lawsuit has also emerged in France, where around 200 media groups, including major television networks and leading newspapers, filed legal action against Meta in April.

Meta faces a €550m trial in Spain after 80+ media outlets accused it of unfair competition and breaching EU data rules in ad sales. Meta denies wrongdoing, citing compliance, transparency, and evolving advertising industry practices.


Articles tagged with "FACEBOOK"

Instagram Map debuts in Pakistan, connecting 19M users to local moments

Meta defends ads model in 550-mn-euro data protection trial