Snapchat is gradually rolling out a new feature called "Footsteps" to all iOS users this week, as confirmed by the company to TechCrunch. Initially available only to Snapchat+ subscribers, this feature utilizes Snap Map to allow users to see how much of the world they've explored and track their travel history.

When you first use Footsteps, it will incorporate Snaps from your Memories, meaning your past trips will be counted. However, after this initial setup, Snapchat will no longer pull data from Memories and will rely solely on your location data for tracking future travels.

It's important to note that Snapchat can only populate your Footsteps if you have Ghost Mode turned off, which prevents the app from sharing your location with friends.

This new feature arrives as Snapchat continues to compete with platforms like Instagram and TikTok. By enhancing its Snap Map functionality, Snapchat aims to solidify its unique offerings compared to its rivals, which currently lack a similar feature (although Instagram has confirmed it is developing a "Friends Map" feature).

With the new Footsteps feature, Snap Map will provide insights into your travel history, including the number of countries you've visited and the extent of your exploration in specific areas. For example, the app might indicate that you've explored 30.4% of your city or that you explored 5% of Paris during a summer trip.

These percentages are calculated based on the various places where you've taken and saved Snaps. It's important to note that these figures will be most accurate for avid users who frequently save Snaps, as they rely on your saved Memories. Going forward, the Map will utilize location data to display your actual Footsteps based on your travel movements.

Your Footsteps are private and only visible to you. You can disable the feature or clear your Footsteps data by accessing your Profile and tapping the “Settings” button. From there, scroll to the “Account Actions” section, select “Map,” and toggle off “Save new Footsteps as my location updates on the map” to disable the feature. To clear your Footsteps history, simply tap “Clear Footsteps History.”

This feature resembles Google Maps’ “Timeline” function, which tracks your trips and locations based on your Location History. Snapchat envisions Footsteps as a tool for tracking travels and sharing adventures with friends, complete with a custom sticker highlighting your journeys.

A spokesperson for Snapchat mentioned that the company plans to roll out the Footsteps feature for Android users soon.