Instagram’s new location sharing feature sparks privacy concerns

Instagram’s latest update, a new "Instagram Map" feature, is facing a wave of backlash and privacy concerns from users who fear the app may be exposing their whereabouts without their explicit consent. The feature, which allows users to share their last active location with friends, is drawing comparisons to Snapchat's "Snap Map" and has prompted widespread panic across social media.

The new tool, which is similar to a live map, has been marketed by Meta as a way for friends to "stay up-to-date" and discover content based on nearby places. Instagram head Adam Mosseri has been quick to respond to the criticism, clarifying in a series of posts on Threads that location sharing is "off by default" and requires users to opt in.

He stated that the system is designed with a "double consent" process to ensure no one's location is shared without a deliberate decision.

However, Mosseri’s reassurances have done little to quell the public outcry. Numerous users have posted on TikTok, X, and Threads claiming their location was visible on the map even though they had not knowingly enabled the feature.

One viral video from a "Bachelor" star, Kelley Flanagan, called the feature "dangerous" and demonstrated how to disable it. In a reply to the video, a user named Lindsey Bell wrote, "Mine was turned on, and my home address was showing for all of my followers to see. Turned it off immediately once I knew, but had me feeling absolutely sick about it."

Experts and digital safety advocates are pointing out that while the feature is technically opt-in for live location, many users may be confusing it with the location data already tied to posts and stories.

The new map aggregates content with location tags, which can create a visual log of a user’s movements, making geotagging feel more tangible and, for many, more dangerous. Privacy experts are also sounding the alarm about the potential for cyberstalking and the misuse of data in abusive relationships.

In a statement, a Meta spokesperson reiterated that live location is never shared unless a user explicitly turns it on, and even then, can only be seen by a curated list of "Close Friends" or mutual followers. The company also pointed to new parental supervision controls that notify parents if their teen enables the feature.

Despite the company's efforts to clarify, the incident has reignited broader public distrust in tech platforms' privacy practices, particularly coming just a week after a federal jury sided with women who accused Meta of misusing sensitive health data