Following a new update, Instagram users are concerned about a new feature that tracks your exact location.
Like every other social media app, Instagram tracks your location to learn as much about its users as possible so it can sell advertising correctly based on the information they collect.
A new feature has been rolled out by Instagram to allow the app to track your precise or exact location. When users first signed up for Instagram, they likely had to agree to share their location information with the app. More recently, though, Instagram quietly rolled out an update to that functionality that allows them to track your location with much more precision.
So yes the app can now track you wherever you are throughout the day.
The feature is enabled automatically with location services, so it could be enabled, and you have absolutely no idea.
However, Instagram has given feedback that this is not how it works after users raised concerns about this.
“We’ve seen a meme going around about how Instagram uses ‘precise location,'” the company said in a tweet.
The tweets continue, “To be clear, we don’t share your location with others. Similar to other social media companies, we use precise location for things like location tags and maps features.
“People can manage Location Services via their device settings, and tag locations on their posts if they want to share that information.”
It is very easy to prevent the app from tracking your location.
For iPhone users:
Go into your Settings and tap Privacy, then scroll down to Location Services. Next, tap Instagram, and select “Never or While Using the App.” Also make sure Precise Location is turned off.
For Android users:
Go to Settings and navigate to App management. Find Instagram and then go to permissions. Tap Location and then check the box next to Deny.
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