Snapchat's New Snap Map Lets You Share Your Location With Friends

Snapchat is expanding into the world of mapping. A new feature announced on Wednesday called Snap Maps will let the app's 166 million users share their locations with each other, according to a company blog post. From a report: From the default camera view, you pinch with two fingers to zoom out and see the map. Friends who have opted into sharing their location through Snap Map (it's off by default) will appear in Bitmoji form. You can share with select friends, all friends, or with no one if you pick "Ghost Mode." Snapchat is very quick to note that your location is only updated when you open the app -- so there shouldn't be any background tracking to worry about.

They should let you share with anyone

[SuperKendall]

They could if they wished become the new Tinder, simply by letting you share your location and a snap-story (or whatever they call it) with everyone nearby.

Re: They should let you share with anyone

[KGIII]

Well, being closer does make it easier.

Re:

[Chris Mattern]

Are you suggesting that the most important factor in deciding whether or not to hook up with somebody is their immediate proximity?

Well, if you can't be with the one you love...

Karnak the Magnificent

[Chris Mattern]

will now predict the headlines of six months from now: "Bug in Snapchat exposes users' positions to hackers."

Re:

[sycodon]

Second Prediction: Some stupid criminal will snapchat himself doing some stupid criminal thing, complete with time and location. Prosecution will be a slam dunk.

Re:

[thomn8r]

Prosecution will be a slam dunk

You could have said "Prosecution will be a Snap..."

Re:

[Hognoxious]

Third prediction: That will happen & it'll be reported here and some cretin will go "But 5th amendment" or "entrapment".

Instamap

[ZipK]

Can I do this in Facebook or Instagram yet?

The Tables Have Turned

[cunina]

For once, Snapchat is copying a "feature" from Facebook, instead of the other way around.

Off by default

[fuzzyf]

Off by default is kind of impressive these days.

Letting users opt in if they want a new feature should be the standard, not the exception.

Well done Snapchat!

Allows you or forces you...?

[evolutionary]

Of course SnapChat has your location whether you "share" it or not.

Re: Allows you or forces you...?

[Laser_iCE]

of course they have your location, the little location icon in my iOS task bar tells me that. but my snapchat friends list does not.

"friends"

[WolfgangVL]

Bully! The English language sure is evolving fast.

Aint that just swell?

All my "friends" and I are going to have a gay old time, what with this sharing our locations with each other and such.

Re:

[vux984]

Snapchat is the most desperate product I've seen in a long time.

oh, i dunno about that.

If snapchat is the 'most' desperate product... what adjective do you use for the products trying to copycat it??

Both whatsapp (facebook) and skype (microsoft) seem to be copying their every move lately. Surely that's even more desperate.

Call me cynical

[eneville]

When a company says they're not tracking, likely they are. What was their business model again?