This worked for me and a friend
In[128]:= m = {{x, sss, x}, {y, sss, y}}
Out[128]= {{2, sss, 2}, {y, sss, y}}
In[129]:= function[ins1_] := ToUpperCase[ins1];
fatmap[ins2_] := MapAt[function, ins2, 2];
In[131]:= Map[fatmap, m]
Out[131]= {{2, ToUpperCase[sss], 2}, {y, ToUpperCase[sss], y}}