Snapchat's new Snap Maps feature lets you trace people's locations sparking stalking and bullying fe

Publish date: 2021-01-29

CHILD safety groups fear that Snapchat's latest update could put children at risk of stalking and bullying.

The photo sharing company has added a map which lets you track your friends' location on its app.

Snap Maps, which was launched this week, plots users' whereabouts on a world map in real time.

The feature uses location trackers on your phones to show exactly where you are - and what you're doing.

This means you can see if your pals are hanging out together without you.

Introducing the new feature, Snap Inc said: "We've built a whole new way to explore the world! See what's happening, find your friends, and get inspired to go on an adventure!"

But internet safety experts fear it could lead to stalking or bullying.

In a statement posted on its blog, child safety group Childnet International said: “Given how specific this new feature is on Snapchat – giving your location to a precise pinpoint on a map – we would encourage users not to share their location, especially with people they don’t know in person.

“It is important to be careful about who you share your location with, as it can allow people to build up a picture of where you live, go to school and spend your time.”

Larry Magid, of ConnectSafely.org, told The Guardian: “Users should be aware of the feature and review it periodically – if a friend becomes an ex-friend, for example.”

The map is based on technology developed by Zenly, a social mapping company bought by Snapchat's owner Snap Inc in May.

most read in tech

Users are able to pick whether they want to make their location visible to all of their friends, a select few, or nobody at all (a setting known as "ghost mode").

If they choose to be visible, they'll appear as an 'Actionmoji' on their friends' maps.

This avatar changes as Snapchat monitors the speed of users' movements, for example by updating to reflect the fact they're travelling in a car.

It's also meant to be a tool for seeing what's going on in the world as a whole, as the map updates with 'hotspot' patches on colour in areas where a lot of people are posting about an event.

But a Snapchat spokesperson told The Sun Online: “The safety of our community is very important to us and we want to make sure that all Snapchatters, parents and educators have accurate information about how the Snap Map works.

"With Snap Map, location-sharing is off by default for all users and is completely optional. Snapchatters can choose exactly who they want to share their location with, if at all, and can change that setting at any time."

The spokesperson added: "It’s also not possible to share your location with someone who isn’t already your friend on Snapchat, and the majority of interactions on Snapchat take place between close friends.”

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTErKynZpOke7a3jq2cnKBfaIV4gJhyaWirnpa9pLTArapmppWseq6tz2adnpmkqr%2BmedahoJygXaGytb%2BMsqauZaSnrqSxjKmcqKicmsBuuM6cmK2hn6PAbr%2FPmqmkq12owaK4yqKloGWRo7FurtSlo7Khnpx6p7HAq6po