Filipino social media users raised the alarm over an Instagram app update that introduced live location sharing for its users. Pinoy users of the Meta-owned app noticed that they can see a map of where users are upon accessing the “Messages” feature of the app. The particular feature can be spotted on the top part, where users share “Notes.
” Named “Map,” clicking the icon shows a map featuring the profiles of their other followers who have allowed to share their location. The user can also zoom in on the map to see the appropriate location of their fellow user and even message them. Instagram users who will access the feature for the first time will see the following introduction: The app said that users can share their precise location with people they “trust,” giving them the option to choose who among their followers can access their data.
The precise location updates every time the user opens Instagram. Users can also opt to turn on the “Invisible Mode” by clicking on the gear icon on the right side of map and turning on the toggle. This mode “hides” the user’s location.
The update bothered some Pinoys who thought that it was “creepy.” “Wtf*ck, creepy ng IG update, kindly turn off location niyo, guys,” an X user wrote with a crying emoji. “Ang weird talaga nung location update sa IG.
.. the way I can see where people’s houses are now??? What happened to safety,” another online user commented with the same emoji.
“Insta’s location.
