WhatsApp introduced live location sharing in 2017.
WhatsApp announced Live Location in October 2017, with a rollout for Android and iPhone users beginning that month. The feature allowed a person to share their real-time movement with an individual contact or a group for a limited period.
Users could choose sharing durations of 15 minutes, one hour, or eight hours, and they could stop sharing before the timer expired. WhatsApp said the feature was end-to-end encrypted, giving users control over both the audience and the duration of the location broadcast.
Live location sharing was different from WhatsApp’s older location feature. Earlier versions could send a static map pin or the location of a place, such as a restaurant. Live Location instead updated as the sender moved, making it useful for meeting friends, coordinating commutes, or letting family know someone had arrived safely.