Snapchat's 'Snap Map' may be dangerous for young users, police warn
The social media app's newest feature shares a user's location with followers and friends
The social media app's newest feature shares a user's location with followers and friends
The social media app's newest feature shares a user's location with followers and friends
"Snap Map," Snapchat's newest feature, allows users to share their locations with friends and followers. The update uses a smartphone's GPS signal to show exactly where a person is located, which could pose a serious threat to one's safety, police warn.
"Snap Map" is designed to help people connected on the app find one another, but local authorities worry that young users who don't know everyone on their friends list could inadvertently show their locations to strangers, creating a potentially dangerous situation.
Avoid sharing location by turning on "Ghost Mode." To do this, open the app and pinch the screen with two fingers. A map that shows your location will load. Select the icon in the top right corner, and enable "Ghost Mode."
Snapchat is the most popular social media platform among high school and college students, and 78 percent use the image and text messenger app daily, according to an online survey conducted by Success Communications Group
Ninety-five percent of students have Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook accounts, but 88 percent report using Snapchat and Instagram more often than Facebook.
Most students use Snapchat to keep in touch with friends (89.5 percent) and to share videos or images (56.8 percent).