Beware! New Snapchat feature Snap Map is a major privacy threat
Snapchat's new feature Snap Map. Pic courtesy/Snapchat support
Snapchat's latest feature Snap Map, which was introduced in June, allows users to optionally share their location with friends. The function is based on the Zenly app acquired by Snap Inc before its launch.
According to The Verge, Snap Map is triggered after opening the camera mode in Snapchat. Once inside a global map display, accessible from the viewfinder, can be used to locate stories based on location data, supporting the use of Bitmoji as placemarkers. Entering a "Ghost Mode" hides the user from the map.
Snapchat users can access it by going to their camera screen and zooming in after which a map showing "Actionmojis" or animated icons of other Snapchat users will be displayed.
A major security or privacy concern is that the user ends up sharing his/her personal address with everyone on the friend's list, each time the app is used. By submitting a snap to "Our Story" the public photo collection can even enable strangers to view your activities, without your knowledge.
The one way to avoid this is the usage of Ghost Mode, which should be enabled in case one doesn't wish their privacy invaded and especially in the case of children, who use Snapchat.
Once "Ghost Mode" is enabled from the top right corner of the map, after which an user can select "Only Me", it would enable him/her to be hidden from public view.
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