You're not always going to agree with every update and change that's added to your favorite social media app, but one of the latest tools introduced to Instagram has left most users furious.
Instagram has added a lot of fantastic new features over the years, from the ability to add multiple photos to a single post to the addition of TikTok-style reels that bring a video dimension to the app.
Arguably its most popular feature – stories – was slightly controversial at its launch as the company was seen as copying Snapchat who had boasted an identical feature for a number of years before.
Instagram might be regretting the addition of its latest feature though, as many users have came out in revolt against a dangerous feature that some are even claim could lead to the deaths of some people.
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What is the dangerous new Instagram feature?
As reported by the Independant, Instagram has now introduced a new map feature that allows people to share their real-time location tracking data with their friends, essentially having their whereabouts available at all times.
This isn't the first time that a feature like this has been available to those who want to take advantage of it, as Apple's Find My Friends and Google Maps have given people the option to do something similar for a number of years now.
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It's even something that Snapchat has offered in a similar capacity for a while, yet it's not the fact that Instagram has stolen another idea that's left people angry, but something far more dangerous.
One concerned user on X has remarked that "the Instagram map is gonna get someone killed," whereas another has called it "a burglar's dream."
How does Instagram's new maps feature work?
According to Meta's official statement, the opt-in feature allows your followers to see your last shared active locations, effectively create a breadcrumb trail of where you have been.
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The company emphasizes this as a feature to help share 'new places to hang out' or nearby events like concerts, and outlines that it's a move "to help you and your friends connect with the world around you."
In theory, this will make it easier for certain types of accounts – for example, travel focused or food recommendation-based users – to create a database of where they go to share with their followers, but many are understandably concerned about what it might allow bad actors to take advantage of.
There are only a specific number of options for who can view your apps though, with the broadest pool being your 'friends' – classified as your followers who you follow back – but you can also set it to be your Close Friends, select friends, or no one.
How to turn off Instagram's new map feature
By default the new maps feature on Instagram is turned off, meaning unless you've gone in and enabled it already, there shouldn't be anything for you to worry about at this point in time.
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However, if you want to make sure that it's off, or you've decided you don't want it on anymore after reading the concerns of others, here's everything you need to do to disable it:
- Head to your profile and press the three lines button in the top left to enter 'Settings and activity'
- Scroll down to find the 'Story, live and location' section
- Head into the 'Location sharing' area and set the 'Instagram Map' option to 'No one'
Once you've done this nobody will be able to access your location data on Instagram, and you can always follow the same steps once again if you ever wanted to turn it back on for whatever reason.