Snapchat Update: Friends Map

Snapchat has released a new update which allows users to view their friend's location live on a map.

This may seem a pretty innocent feature, but when you think about how and why it is being done, and how it can be used - you suddenly realise how dangerous it actually is...

The new feature allows users to pinch out on the home page of Snapchat (the camera) which will then present them with a map.

On this map it will display all of their Snapchat friends current locations. What's even scarier though is Snapchat knows what you are doing...

If you are in a car, Snapchat will display this using your Bitmoji.

If your listening to music, Snapchat will add a pair of headphones to your Bitmoji.

It even knows if you are flying - showing your Bitmoji in an aeroplane...

This new feature basically means that your 'friends' can in effect spy on your location at any time - without your permission.

Now the real danger is a danger that already plagues all social media sites, even before this update. Do you actually know - personally - every single person on your friends list?

Chances are, probably not. And even if you think you do, how can you be completely certain that the person called "John Smith" is actually your friend "John Smith"? You don't - it could be anyone, simply pretending to be that person.

And now with this new update, this fake "John Smith" can now see your location whenever they like.

There are a couple of measures that Snap Inc. have taken to make the feature slightly safer:

• The app only tracks your location while you have it open (open does count as minimised though - be sure to force close your apps)
• While the app is closed, only the last known location is displayed to friends
• If a user has not opened the Snapchat app within 8 hours - they disappear from the map completely, until they open it again
• The Ghost Mode feature (see below)

Ghost Mode:

Ghost mode is basically an option that allows a Snapchat user to become invisible on the map.

With Ghost Mode enabled, you are completely hidden from the map until you manually disable Ghost Mode.

How to enable Ghost mode?

Watch our video to learn how to enable ghost mode on your Snapchat account.

If this video won't play please click here

Other users please note:

If another user is in ghost mode they can still see your location! The only way to protect yourself from this is by enabling ghost mode.

If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact us