Privacy nightmare? Instagram's location-sharing feature draws comparisons to Snapchat
The feature, which was quietly introduced this week, allows users to share their precise, real-time location with selected friends.
Instagram has rolled out a new 'Friend Map' in the United States (US), a move that has drawn comparisons to Snapchat and triggered backlash over privacy concerns.
The feature, which was quietly introduced this week, allows users to share their precise, real-time location with selected friends.
On paper, it's all about staying connected. In practice, people are calling it a privacy nightmare waiting to happen.
The feature, tucked at the top of your direct message inbox, lets you see exactly where your friends are and vice versa, but only if both parties opt-in.
The backlash was so loud that Instagram head Adam Mosseri had to post a clarification on Thursday, assuring users their location will only be shared if they choose to.
"We're double-checking everything, but so far it looks mostly like people are confused and assume that, because they can see themselves on the map when they open it, other people can see them too," he said.
He added that the feature is designed to require "double consent" to ensure no one shares their location without explicitly choosing to do so.
That hasn’t stopped the avalanche of warnings flooding X and TikTok.
One viral all-caps tweet with nearly 200,000 likes urged people to turn the location off on Instagram right away.
Many users, like Piper Foxx (@Piperfoxxi), reported that their location settings had been enabled without warning.
"Instagram turning on our exact location for thousands of people to see is actually terrifying. That’s insane. Make sure to turn that off," she posted.
If this is giving you déjà vu, you’re not wrong. Snapchat rolled out its Snap Map back in 2017 and got roasted for similar reasons, with safety groups warning users not to share their precise location with strangers.
Meta insisted Instagram’s Friend Map is also opt-in and your location is off by default. But here’s the catch: if you’ve ever tagged a location in a Story or post, your phone’s location services may already be on and that makes it a lot easier to accidentally switch the feature on.
Experts warn that while the idea of tracking your best friends at brunch might sound fun, your location data is worth a lot more to Big Tech than just casual hangouts.
Instagram’s new feature might be dressed up as a cute way to connect, but it’s also a reminder that oversharing online has consequences. If you value your privacy and safety, double-check your settings before you accidentally give the internet a live feed of your life.
Because in 2025, the only people who should know your exact location are your family and close friends.
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