- Instagram (owned by Meta) introduced a Friend Map feature, enabling real-time location tracking by default for some users, raising alarms about stalking, surveillance and data exploitation.
- The tool uses GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to share live location updates with selected contacts, similar to Snapchat’s Snap Map. Critics argue it’s invasive, exposing routines like home/work addresses.
- Real-time location data can endanger users—especially minors and abuse victims—by revealing sensitive patterns. Meta profits from this data for targeted ads, while governments could access it without warrants.
- Users must manually opt out via Instagram’s Map settings (select “No one”) and revoke location permissions in their device settings (iPhone: Privacy > Location Services; Android: Location permissions).
- This reflects a broader tech industry trend of eroding privacy under the guise of convenience. The article urges resistance to normalize surveillance and protect personal freedom.
Instagram, the social media platform owned by Meta, has introduced a new feature that should alarm anyone who values personal privacy. While the platform recently rolled out three updates – including the ability to repost public reels and a “Friends” tab displaying liked content – the most troubling addition is the Friend Map, a live location-tracking tool.
Friend Map is a real-time location-sharing system similar to Snapchat’s Snap Map. Enabled by default for some users, this feature allows followers to see your exact whereabouts in real time, sparking fears about surveillance, stalking and corporate data harvesting.
It relies on GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals to track users’ movements, displaying their precise location to selected contacts. Meta claims the tool helps people “stay connected,” but critics argue it’s yet another invasive data collection tactic disguised as a social feature.
Unlike a one-time check-in at a restaurant, this system updates users’ location every time they open the app. This means Meta, and potentially others, can monitor people’s daily routines – from their homes to their workplaces. (Related: BOMBSHELL: Google tracks your physical location even if you turn off location data on your mobile device.)
Real-time location data is among the most sensitive information a person can share. In the wrong hands, it can reveal home addresses, work routines and frequent hangout spots. These details that are valuable not just to advertisers but also to stalkers and harassers.
Domestic violence organizations have long warned that live tracking tools empower abusers, making it easier to monitor victims. For minors, the risks are even greater. Normalizing constant surveillance under the guise of “social connection” sets a dangerous precedent, eroding personal boundaries in the name of engagement.
The unfriendly Friend Map: A privacy disaster
Meta insists the feature is opt-in, but users report it was automatically enabled for some accounts. Even if turned off, the company continues collecting location data unless manually restricted in phone settings.
This isn’t about fostering friendships; it’s about profit. Meta monetizes user behavior, and location data is a goldmine for targeted advertising. Governments can also access this information without warrants if shared publicly, further compromising user privacy.
Those who want to opt out should open the Instagram app, navigate to Messages and tap Map, go to Settings and select No one. iPhone users should go to Privacy & Security in Settings, then Location Services and deny Instagram access. Android users can revoke Instagram’s location permissions under their device’s Location settings.
This isn’t an isolated incident. For years, tech companies have chipped away at privacy under the banner of “convenience.” From Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica scandal to Google’s location-tracking lawsuits, the pattern is clear: Extract more data, normalize surveillance and profit from users’ personal lives. Instagram’s Friend Map is just the latest example of this troubling trend.
Privacy isn’t about having “something to hide” – it’s about maintaining control over your own life. Instagram’s Friend Map is a step toward a world where constant tracking becomes unavoidable. Disabling this feature isn’t just a personal choice; it’s a stand against the unchecked power of Big Tech.
Watch this report from Voice of America about location tracking privacy concerns.
This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
Google Latitude Spies on Americans’ Exact Geographic Location in Real Time.
Google SUED by 4 AGs for tracking users without permission.
Law enforcement agencies obtain private location data directly from Google to demonize innocent people as “crime suspects.”
Sources include:
ReclaimTheNet.org
NYPost.com
CBS8.com
Brighteon.com
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