Last week, Snapchat released a new feature called Snap Map. Snap Map is an opt-in location sharing function that allows users to share the location of posted Snaps on Our Story, which is viewable by their friends. Once the app is open on your phone, all you have to do is pinch the screen to zoom out and view the Map to see where and what your friends are up to. Although Snap Map may seem useful for keeping up-to-date on what your friends are doing world-wide, users need to be aware of the downsides. Snapchat doesn’t disclose in its instructional video that Snap Map can broadcast your exact location every time you open the app to anyone on your friends list. This feature has raised some safety and privacy concerns of users and parents of teen users who worry that the wrong person might gain access to their location. Snapchat does, however, allow the option to hide your location when updating to Snap Map by choosing Ghost Mode.
Check out Snapchat’s instructional video for Snap Map and decide if you love this new feature or will be leaving your location a secret.