Meta’s Location Tracking: A Dangerous Gamble?

Smartphone showing social media app icons in a folder

Instagram’s new location tracking feature exposes users to potential danger despite Meta’s claims of privacy protection, with reports showing locations visible even when users never opted in.

Story Snapshot

Instagram rolled out Friend Map feature globally on August 7, 2025, allowing real-time location sharing
Users report their locations appearing on maps despite never enabling the feature
Privacy advocates warn of stalking risks and inadequate safeguards for minors
Meta’s Adam Mosseri insists location sharing is “completely off by default” amid technical contradictions

Meta’s Privacy Claims Face Technical Reality

Instagram Head Adam Mosseri publicly stated that location sharing remains “completely off by default” and users must actively choose to share their whereabouts. However, multiple user reports contradict these assurances, with individuals discovering their locations visible on the Friend Map without ever enabling the feature. This disconnect between Meta’s official statements and user experiences raises serious questions about the platform’s technical implementation and commitment to privacy protection.

Tracking Capabilities Mirror Snapchat’s Controversial Model

The Friend Map feature directly copies Snapchat’s Snap Map functionality, which faced similar privacy backlash upon its 2017 launch. Instagram’s version allows users to share real-time or recent locations with selected friends through customizable sharing lists. The platform promises granular controls over visibility settings, yet early reports suggest these safeguards may not function as advertised, potentially exposing users to unwanted surveillance by acquaintances or strangers.

Parental Controls Insufficient for Teen Protection

Meta implemented parental notification systems for supervised teen accounts, alerting parents when minors enable location sharing. However, privacy experts argue these measures provide inadequate protection given the feature’s reported technical glitches. Parents receive notifications only after teens activate sharing, creating a reactive rather than preventive approach to child safety. This undermines parental authority and places minors at risk during the critical window before oversight occurs.

The timing of this rollout coincides with increased scrutiny of Big Tech’s data practices under the Trump administration, which has emphasized protecting American families from digital exploitation. Conservative lawmakers have consistently warned against tech companies’ overreach into personal privacy, particularly regarding children’s safety online.

Constitutional Privacy Concerns Emerge

The reported technical failures represent a broader assault on individual privacy rights that conservatives have long defended against government and corporate overreach. When tech platforms claim user control while secretly tracking locations, they violate fundamental principles of consent and personal liberty. This pattern mirrors the surveillance state tactics that constitutional conservatives consistently oppose, whether from government agencies or private corporations wielding unchecked power over American citizens’ personal information.

The feature’s implementation reflects Silicon Valley’s typical approach of prioritizing engagement metrics over user safety, a trend that has repeatedly harmed American families while enriching tech executives. Instagram’s parent company Meta has faced numerous privacy violations and regulatory actions, suggesting a pattern of disregarding user protection in favor of data harvesting for advertising revenue.