Snapchat expands Parental Control with location tracking to make it easier for parents to track their kids

Snapchat

Snapchat is set to add new location tracking features to its Family Center, enhancing parental control options. These updates aim to provide parents with increased visibility over their children’s location and Snap Map settings, addressing longstanding concerns about safety and location sharing on the app.

The enhanced parental controls, launching in the coming weeks, will allow parents to request access to view their child’s real-time location. They will also have the option to share their own location with their child. Additionally, parents can choose to receive “travel notifications” when their child leaves designated locations, such as school or home, allowing them to keep track of their movements.

Snap Map visibility
Snapchat’s updated Family Center will also let parents see who their child has shared their location with on Snap Map. This feature addresses concerns that location sharing on Snapchat could expose minors to safety risks, such as interactions with strangers. The app’s Snap Map feature has faced scrutiny in the past from safety advocates who expressed concerns about minors being able to connect with unknown individuals.

Safety reminders and policies
Snap has noted that its location-sharing policies are designed to prevent users from sharing location information with anyone outside their friend list. The company also plans to issue additional reminders, encouraging users to review and be mindful of their Snap Map settings.

Concerns and legal scrutiny
The safety of Snapchat’s location-sharing features has been questioned in various contexts, including a lawsuit filed earlier this year by New Mexico’s Attorney General. The lawsuit highlighted potential risks, alleging that the app’s design enabled dangerous interactions between minors and strangers. Snapchat’s new parental controls aim to mitigate these concerns by offering increased oversight and clearer safety reminders for users.