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AIBU?

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Original poster

to think that SnapChat Map is a really bad idea ?

60 replies

TalkinPeece · 23/06/2017 15:07

www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-40382876

Basically it locates the phones of everybody on snapchat, down to the exact house
so can be used to find where children are asleep (with their phones by their beds)
or to see if people are away from home.

Has all sorts of safeguarding / crime issues and was clearly thought up by childless geeks ....

OP posts:
peaCOCKness · 23/06/2017 15:12

I was horrified about this when my friend told me about it today and immediately deleted my snapchat app and account. Terrifying

pistonpower · 23/06/2017 15:17

I agree. This is really scary stuff. Who thought that would be a good idea?

ProudBadMum · 23/06/2017 15:19

It's a stalkers dream! So much about social media safety and strangers yet they do shit like this!

FB tell you when people are near as well.

tkband3 · 23/06/2017 15:21

Thanks for drawing attention to this - I have shared on my FB and will make sure my teens turn off this feature asap.

WellErrr · 23/06/2017 15:21

What is it?

deffoncforthis · 23/06/2017 15:22

Reminded of Liberty German and Abigail Williams.

Roll forward 6 months and I wonder how many people will have been stalked because of this, and worse.

Ilovecoleslaw · 23/06/2017 15:22

Holy crap!!! Just checked on my snapchat, and i can see exactly where my friends are, that's awful Shock

endofthelinefinally · 23/06/2017 15:22

My teenaged dd and her friend mentioned this yesterday. Both are horrified for exactly the reasons given. So dangerous.

TheSecondOfHerName · 23/06/2017 15:25

DS1 (17) has decided to put himself in ghost mode. The younger three have Microsoft phones which don't support the Snapchat app, but they do have Instagram, so I will be keeping an eye on the location sharing there.

OnionKnight · 23/06/2017 15:35

In order to even start using Snap Map, you personally have to turn it on. Also, your location settings must be set to public, and you must post a story to "our story" instead of "my story.".

CaoNiMartacus · 23/06/2017 15:37

I've always thought that social media is the biggest form of data gathering/monitoring ever invented. And we opt into it so freely!

Original poster
TalkinPeece · 23/06/2017 15:39

onion
Not true.
The default is that it switched on this week.
You have to actively opt out of it for each post and thread
(according to DC who was rather shocked that it let them work out the home address of lots of acquaintances)

Read the BBC article about switching it off.

OP posts:
wotabastard · 23/06/2017 15:40

Pinch the camera screen to open it then you are able to activate it or use 'ghost mode' to hide yourself.

OnionKnight · 23/06/2017 15:41

Really? Fuck I'd better check.

deffoncforthis · 23/06/2017 15:47

It's still a problem even if it's opt-in. Kids are often impressionable, irresponsible and tend to assume the best of random people they meet, so there's every reason to expect some will still be stalked by people who wish them harm, even if they have to click a fancy button that lets their friends see them before it happens.

The ability to GPS locate you for anyone who who can gain your trust shouldn't be a feature in something used by teenagers.

deffoncforthis · 23/06/2017 15:47

*who

RebootYourEngine · 23/06/2017 15:49

When i pinch the camera it takes me to settings and because location services is turned off i cant access snap chat map.

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 23/06/2017 15:56

FB tell you when people are near as well.

Only if you opt in to that feature.

Original poster
TalkinPeece · 23/06/2017 16:00

What shocked DC is that it tagged where people were even if they were not using snapchat (cos they were asleep)
THAT is silly
there should be a time link that it only shows where you are when you are using it

proudbad
who you are near is one thing ....
Snapchat highlighted who was miles from home (on uni visits) with their parents .....

OP posts:
poisonedbypen · 23/06/2017 16:06

It's the default, put it in ghost mode. My kids were horrified to find they could even see which building of the school people were in. It's a stalkers heaven sent update. I hope they reverse it soon before damage is done.

ChrisPrattsFace · 23/06/2017 16:18

MY default is that its not even switched on, i just checked. And i don't have my location services switched on!
I will be checking it regularly.

Original poster
TalkinPeece · 23/06/2017 16:20

Adults are more likely to not have location on or be like me and not even use snapchat
teenagers on the other hand ......

OP posts:
Discobabe98 · 23/06/2017 17:14

Well, if you've only got your friends on snapchat surely it's not too bad? Different story if you have kids who are just adding randomers, obviously that would be scary but for the former? Don't see a problem with it as you can just turn on ghost mode

Saiman · 23/06/2017 17:17

Switched mine off straight away. I have a business so plenty of people on snapchat who i dont personally know. Dont want them knowing where i am.

PacificDogwod · 23/06/2017 17:47

I've always thought that social media is the biggest form of data gathering/monitoring ever invented. And we opt into it so freely!

My thoughts exactly.
I am quite bemused by quite how upset many people get at the mention of ID cards, but have no clue what their social media harvests...

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