Turn Off Instagram Location-Sharing Feature: How to Opt Out

Instagram has introduced a new feature called the Instagram Map, which allows users to share their location with followers. Critics have expressed concerns about safety, with some users claiming their location was shared without their knowledge. The feature is currently not available in Australia, but users are wondering about it. Meta says it's an opt-in feature and that users must choose who sees their location. Despite this, some users claim their locations were shared without their knowledge.

Instagram has introduced a new feature, Instagram Map, which allows users to share their live location with their followers. The feature, which was rolled out on Thursday as part of an app update, has sparked concerns among privacy experts and lawmakers regarding potential safety risks, particularly for children.

The Instagram Map feature, which is currently not available in Australia, enables users to share their location with a select group of friends or all their followers. Users can opt-in to this feature, and it is designed to be "off by default" [1]. However, some users have reported that their locations were shared without their consent, leading to confusion and concern.

Douglas Zytko, an app safety expert and associate professor at the University of Michigan-Flint, expressed his concerns about the feature. He stated, "The more these location features are rolled out on social media, it carries out the assumption that as long as you give users the ability to toggle them on and off that they'll know exactly how to do that. But the average user isn't always aware of their privacy settings and if they match their preferences" [1].

Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) have called for the shutdown of the Instagram Map feature, citing concerns about the safety of children. In a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the lawmakers argued that the feature could put children in harm's way by allowing dangerous individuals to track their locations [2].

Meta has stated that the feature is an opt-in feature and that users must choose who sees their location. However, the company has also acknowledged that some users have reported that their location was shared without their knowledge. Meta is currently investigating these reports and working on design improvements to address the concerns [2].

The Instagram Map feature is a significant development in the world of social media, but it has raised important questions about privacy and safety. As the feature becomes more widely available, it will be crucial for users to understand how to manage their privacy settings and for social media platforms to ensure that their features do not put users at risk.

References:
[1] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/instagram-map-disable/
[2] https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/bipartisan-senators-call-instagram-shut-down-its-new-map-feature-citing-childrens-safety-concerns