I’m Not A Pin On Your Map

LIVED EXPERIENCE

Instagram’s new location map feature is not just wildly unnecessary, but wholly terrifying in a new age of digital stalking.

As an incredibly private person, the only time my Location services are on is while I use Google Maps. Occasionally, it slips my mind to turn it off, which is unfortunately what must have happened when Instagram decided to roll out their new ‘Maps’ feature. Illuminated by the glow of mindless doomscrolling, I remember shooting up from my slouch when I got a pop-up offer on my feed to share my Location via Instagram Maps to all my followers — friends, relatives and random mutuals alike. Within a week, I’d realised many of my peers had not reacted with a resounding denial to share their every movement with the world as I had; rather, people were encouraging others to join, and many people were already admitting to stalking their friends’ locations when they were bored or not getting a fast-enough reply.

Now, I am familiar with social media Map features, since I vaguely remember that Snapchat used to offer this service well before Instagram thought to. However, when the feature was first introduced, Instagram would enable the Map service unless you explicitly disabled the Location and Map access in your settings (many privacy activists on forums like Reddit do suspect this is still true, even today, despite Meta’s vehement denial).

While I may concede to the benefits such a system may have, like finding places one may only see briefly promoted on Instagram, my mind draws a blank at any potential usage of such a feature. Rather, the very first thing I thought of was the incredible breach of privacy this would promote.

When young people are using technology like Instagram to connect with friends, share photos and simply communicate with the world, we already see instances of child abuse and harassment, stalking, and creepy preying. Enable a 24/7 location service in the hands of a teenager who may just want to share their going-abouts with their followers, and you might just be adding a wildly-uncontrollable variable in this mix.

With the issue of minors aside, the Maps service does raise concerns for adults’—especially young women’s— digital safety as well. Today, I may share my Maps with every follower of mine without thinking twice, including acquaintances; tomorrow, this gives a cart-blanche to any of these people to know exactly where I am at all times — and how to access me without my knowledge.

Many of my peers would argue that this is a consent-based feature, much like many other invasive social media features; it simply matters what you decide to share. However, I would think that something like unlimited access to others’ Locations (including where they live) might be much harder to regulate than a post of my cat. In the long run, this new update might facilitate more harm than good, in my opinion. Until then, I think I’ll just stick to begrudgingly sharing my location with my dad every time I step out — and absolutely nobody else!

THE CONTEXT

What’s Really Going On?

Diva’s experience points to a bigger product design issue: the thin line between fostering connection and normalising surveillance.

Instagram’s Friend Map lets you see where your connections are in real time or where they were last active. Integrated right inside the Messages tab, the feature updates location data every time a user opens the app. It also plots your geo-tagged Instagram Stories and Reels onto a central interactive map.

The Design Dilemma & Privacy Gap

• Opt-in confusion: While Meta maintains that the feature is strictly opt-in and off by default, the friction occurs around existing device permissions. If you have historically toggled location ‘On’ for location-tagging posts, you might have encountered full-screen pop-ups to join the map.

• Geo-tagging exposure: Many users don't realise that simply adding a location sticker to a public or mutual-follower Story automatically indexes that post onto the regional Map view for 24 hours.

• Peer pressure: Features like this leverage network effects. When children see a cluster of mutual friends on a map, opting out feels like social isolation, blurring the line of true informed consent.

How to Secure Your Account Right Now

1. Go to your Instagram DMs. Tap Map at the top. Set ‘Who can see your location’ to No one.

2. Go to your phone’s System Settings. Change Location Permissions to Never or While Using the App.

3. If managing a minor’s account via Meta Family Center, ensure location-sharing alerts are toggled ON to receive notifications if your teen changes their map parameters.

THE GLOBAL FEED

• Meta says it will share child sexual abuse material (CSAM) with Indian authorities, in addition to the US-based National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). This move comes as a result of a 🔗 BBC Eye investigation ↗️ into paid advertisements promoting CSAM on Meta-owned platforms.

• Google has released the 🔗 US Future Report ↗️ about teens’ views on AI. It found:
  1. Nearly three in four teens (74%) say they use AI weekly or more as an interactive study partner.
  2. Half of surveyed teens (50%) consistently evaluate the trustworthiness of AI-generated content.

• The 🔗 EU ↗️ announces a plan to restrict social media access for those under 15 to tackle online safety. The European Commission said social media platforms would need to prove they were safe by design or face fines of up to 6% of their global sales.

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Verified By Boom is written by Divya Chandra, edited by Adrija Bose and designed by H Shiva Roy Chowdhury.

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