Snapchat's Snap Maps feature alarms law enforcement, parents
The Snapchat app is known for its fun and interactive filters, but with its most recent update, it's tracking users' exact location and sharing it for all their friends to see. The feature is called Snap Maps, and it has both law enforcement and parents concerned.
The Snapchat app is known for its fun and interactive filters, but with its most recent update, it's tracking users' exact location and sharing it for all their friends to see. The feature is called Snap Maps, and it has both law enforcement and parents concerned.
The Snapchat app is known for its fun and interactive filters, but with its most recent update, it's tracking users' exact location and sharing it for all their friends to see. The feature is called Snap Maps, and it has both law enforcement and parents concerned.
The Snapchat app is known for its fun and interactive filters, but with its most recent update, it's tracking users' exact location and sharing it for all their friends to see. The feature is called Snap Maps, and it has both law enforcement and parents concerned.
"I get real emotional thinking about it because that's just, you know, it's important," said parent Neil Anding.
Like many dads, Anding is trying to keep up with his kids and navigate the social media world.
"That's all (kids) do, they're on their phones and they're Snapchatting all the time," Anding said. "These predators and these weird people that are all over, I mean they'll just key on that, and it scares me to death."
The Dodge County Sheriff's Office said Anding has good reason to be worried, especially when it comes to Snap Maps.
"When your phone updates itself, you might be signing up for things you didn't know existed," said Dodge County Sheriff's Deputy Brie Frank.
Frank shared a post on the Dodge County Sheriff's Office Facebook page warning parents the new feature can track and share a user's exact location.
"By the street and by the house," Frank said. "When I looked at mine, I was actually walking in the park and it was moving as I was moving, and I was like 'Wow, that's a little bit creepy.'"
Snapchat users can access the new setting by zooming out on the camera. Snap Maps will pop up, showing were their Bitmoji, or avatar, is. Users can zoom in close enough to see the exact cross streets. As long as it's public, all the user's friends can see their location, too.
"It's concerning too, for kids, that they add two or three people that they have no clue who they are," Frank said.
Users who update the app automatically have the Snap Map feature, meaning their location could be exposed to whoever has added them without their knowledge.
"It's a reality -- online predators are out there," said Angela Roeber, director of communications at Project Harmony. "They are using those apps that the children are using so that they can gain access to your child."
The good news is that users can turn their location off by switching on Ghost Mode in the settings tab. Regardless, Roeber said parents should monitor their kids' activity, understand how apps work and most importantly, have a conversation.
"Really be vigilant, as well as setting limits and clear boundaries for children and also being consistent with those rules," Roeber said.
Anding plans to do just that as he prepares to get his 11-year-old son a phone.
"I've already been told that I have to be more tech-savvy and that stuff, so yes I will be," Anding said. "Just because I don't want anything to happen to my younger kids."
The Snap Maps feature does allow users to select only specific people to see their location and block everyone else. Frank said, if monitored correctly, that could come in handy for parents trying to keep track of their kids.
If users select the "our story" option when sharing a photo or video, the Snap Map feature shares their content with people all over the globe.
Parents concerned about their kids' social media use can visit Project Harmony for more tips and information.