Meta’s latest Instagram update — a “Map” tool showing users’ geolocation — has sparked a wave of backlash, with critics warning it could compromise safety.
Launched on Wednesday, the feature mirrors Snapchat’s Snap Map, letting users share their “last active location” to help friends “stay up-to-date.” Meta insists it’s off by default and requires explicit opt-in. But by Thursday, social media was brimming with posts claiming the opposite.
Several users complained on Threads about how the feature exposes people’s location without any warning. Many warned of risks to vulnerable individuals, including those with restraining orders. One post described the update as “incredibly dangerous” and accused Instagram of rolling it out without adequate notice.
Instagram chief Adam Mosseri countered the criticism, saying the confusion stemmed from people assuming their visibility on their own map view meant others could see them too. He stressed that location sharing requires “double consent” — confirmation after opting in — and reiterated that the team was re-checking the rollout to ensure no one’s location is shared without permission.
“We’re double checking everything, but so far it looks mostly like people are confused and assume that, because they can see themselves on the map when they open, other people can see them too,” Mosseri wrote on Threads. “We’re still checking everything though to make sure nobody shares location without explicitly deciding to do so, which, by the way, requires a double consent by design (we ask you to confirm after you say you want to share).”
Still, several users claimed their settings showed location sharing was on by default, even when their phone’s location permissions for Instagram were set to “never.”
A Meta spokesperson echoed Mosseri’s stance, clarifying that the Map is off by default and live location is only shared with mutual followers or a custom list chosen by the user.
While Meta frames the feature as a way to connect with friends, the uproar shows that location-based tools remain a minefield for platforms already under scrutiny for privacy. Whether this controversy fizzles out or forces Instagram to tweak the rollout could hinge on how quickly it convinces users their safety isn’t at risk.
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