Snap Map ~ How To Make Your Location Unavailable!

This week Snapchat (also known as Snap Inc), released a new MAP feature, enabling users to display the location of where their Snaps are taken.

A lot of information is currently swirling online about Snap Map and some of it is alarmist!

While I advocate strongly to always think about your 'online safety surroundings', especially regarding posting or checking in online. Some of the information being shared about the Snap Map location feature is incorrect.

Which is, in my opinion not helpful for parents who may already be stressed about the safety of their teens online.

The Snap Map location setting is OFF by default!  Meaning users need to make a conscious decision to send their location to others and if it is available, it is only sent to friends.

The only time the location may appear in public, is when a Snap is posted publicly to Snapchat 'Our Story'. (Note: this is different to posting privately to your own story).

Snapchat make this point in their privacy statement if using this feature.
"If an Our Story or any other crowd-sourced service is streamed on the web or broadcast in some other media, it may be viewed by the public at large or rebroadcast by our business partners."
Want to know more about how to submit a Snap to an 'Our Story', or how to remove a Snap from an 'Our Story' read the information from Snapchat HERE



SO in sharing the above, let's get cracking on how you can feel more confident about privacy with Snap Map!  Here are my tips on how to turn off Snap Map in your iPhone and the Snapchat setting, with the following various options.




First Option: Information on sharing location by Snapchat.

Opening Snap for the first time after the update;
 >  Pinch the camera tool to access the Map.  
(If you have location turned on, the App will open to the Map)

> Choose options for your Map sharing; All Your Friends - Select Friends - Only Me.

Choosing 'Only Me' activates in Ghost Mode.  

Ghost Mode makes your account disappear from others' maps, so you can see others but they can't see you.
Note: the last screen is not accessible it is a promo for Snapchat Our Story - I have placed a red cross for awareness do not choose Our Story unless you want your information seen publicly. 







Second Option:  Turn Off iPhone Location Settings for Snapchat
(A good idea to do First option as well, in case you turn on Location for a Snap in the future) 

Go to Settings  - Choose Privacy - Choose Location Services - Scroll to Snapchat 
 Choose NEVER









Third Option: Some people are not able to see the First Option of Ghost Mode.
These settings are shared by the great people at
Childnet International.







Fourth Option: Turn Off - Share Usage Data in Snapchat Settings


Go to Settings via the Settings (cog) icon - tap on Manage - tap on Maps -  turn off Share usage data
(no longer share anonymized location and usage data with Snaps map providers)









Extra Option: Privacy Settings information from Snapchat 




although not location based it does display other helpful info for your online account privacy.  


Check it out Here



If you find these tips helpful, share to others who need them.
Together we can help keep our communities and loved ones safer online
... Janita





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