"Can't Post Freely on Insta Anymore"... Controversy Over Newly Introduced Location Sharing Feature

Instagram's newly introduced location sharing feature has sparked controversy over privacy invasion.

On the 7th (local time), U.S. broadcaster CNBC reported that Instagram unveiled a new feature the previous day that displays users' location information. However, some users have expressed concerns about this feature. Known as Instagram Map, the feature is similar to Snapchat's 'Snap Map' and allows friends to see where users post content. However, it does not provide real-time location tracking and only displays the last active location.

Instagram's newly introduced location sharing feature on the 7th (local time) has sparked controversy over privacy invasion. Photo by Yonhap News

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Location sharing is turned off by default and must be activated by the user. Meta Platforms (Meta), Instagram's parent company, explained, "Location information sharing is deactivated unless the user consents."

However, some users have pointed out that this feature could be misused for stalking or illegal surveillance, or could infringe on privacy.

One user expressed concern in a post on Meta's social networking service (SNS) Threads, saying, "I can't believe Instagram released a map feature that exposes everyone's location without prior notice."

As complaints mounted, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri personally stepped forward to provide clarification. CEO Mosseri emphasized, "We are reviewing everything again," and added, "From what we see now, users can check their own location on the map, so they may think others can see their location as well. (However,) even if a user chooses to share their location, we ask for confirmation one more time."

Nevertheless, distrust over the safety of the feature is spreading, with some users claiming, "My location was shared automatically regardless of my intent."

One user claimed, "I disabled the Instagram location setting on my phone, but the location setting was still enabled," and added, "My information was shared with everyone on Instagram."

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