Snapchat: New feature should guarantee safe way home

Snapchat introduces a new feature that allows users to share their location live with friends. This is intended to guarantee safety on the way home, for example.

Location sharing possible since 2017

Already since 2017, Snapchat offers the possibility to share one’s location with one’s contacts. Here, the own location is displayed to all contacts on a map. The now introduced function is slightly different from the previous location sharing: from now on, it is possible to share the location live and make it accessible to a selected person. Thus, the locomotion can be tracked live on the map.

In this context, Snapchat primarily draws attention to two possible uses. On the one hand, the function can be used in the context of joint meetings to track where the other person is on the way. Secondly, it is intended to ensure a safe journey home. Especially at night, when people feel unsafe on the street, they can share their location live with a selected person, who can then track where they are. In case of irregularities, the emergency call can be dialed by this second person.

The live sharing of the location is limited in time. The standard time window is fifteen minutes, but a longer release is also possible.

Transparency should be given

Snapchat further draws attention in its press release to the fact that the system is to be transparent. For example, when using the function for the first time, it is pointed out that one’s live location should only be shared with close friends or family members. In addition, both the respective profiles and the associated chats should show who can currently see one’s own location. Unlike the previous location sharing, it is not possible to share the location with all contacts at the same time.