Snapchat has introduced a new feature that lets users track other people’s location in real time and shown on a map. This invasion of privacy is creating concerns among The Haven advocates and the concerns among safety experts who fear it could be used to stalk or bully others. Snapchat isn’t the first social media network to allow location tracking or location sharing. Twitter lets people add their locations to tweets, while Facebook check-ins and the “share location” Messenger function allow people to track their contacts. Apple also allows users to share their location on a map for a limited time period or for indefinite. Parents need to sit down with their kids and get them to really consider which friends they are sharing their location with and who all can see it. The new Snapchat feature is shown below.
How to hide your location:
Snapchat - Open the Snapchat app. In the top left corner of the screen will be a small white ghost, click it. The Snapchat "main menu" will pop up, click the gear in the top right corner of your screen. The setting menu should open up. Scroll down until you see "WHO CAN..." in green. Below you will find "see my location", click to open the location settings. Turn on "Ghost Mode" at the top of the page to hide your location.
iPhone - Open the settings, scroll down until you see "Privacy" with a grey hand symbol. Open privacy, the "location services" will be the first setting on the list. Click "location services" to open and turn off your location by sliding the green button on the right. If you would like to turn of your location for certain apps, scroll down and click the app you want to cut off the location to.