Recently there have been claims that Instagram posts with location tags, can be used to show the person’s exact location. Should you be concerned?
iPhones and Android devices have a setting where you can let an app use the precise location of the device. When turned on it can pinpoint your location with greater accuracy than standard GPS locating. Different Apps will use the setting in different ways, for example with Snapchat it is used to add your snaps to the Snap Map, while Uber uses it to show your location when booking a ride.
Viral posts have been claiming that Instagram takes your precise location and shares it with others, allowing potential criminals and undesirables to track down users. Instagram’s PR team released this statement “To be clear, we don’t share your location with others. Similar to other social media companies, we use precise location for things like location tags and map features. ”Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri also said “We don’t share your location with other people.” The viral posts are most likely untrue but it is a good reminder to be careful of what personal information you share on the internet.
