Instagram’s New Location Feature Sparks Privacy Fears

Users report unexpected sharing of personal whereabouts

Instagram’s latest location-sharing tool is facing a wave of criticism and user-led warnings over concerns it might expose people’s locations without their explicit consent.

Location Sharing Controversy Unfolds

The update, which rolled out in the United States on August 6, enables users to discover content posted from specific places by friends and favored creators. While Meta states the feature is opt-in and disabled by default, several users have reported discovering their location data was shared unknowingly, igniting viral alarm online.

“Mine was turned on and my home address was showing for all of my followers to see,” shared user Lindsey Bell in a comment on a TikTok video by reality TV personality Kelley Flanagan. “Turned it off immediately once I knew, but had me feeling absolutely sick about it.”

Kelley Flanagan herself labeled the new functionality “dangerous” and provided detailed guidance on how to deactivate it.

Understanding Instagram’s Location Tool

Instagram introduced the new feature on Wednesday, allowing users to share their location via an in-app map. According to Meta, this is part of an effort to “better connect with your friends on Instagram.”

Instagram’s Head, Adam Mosseri, clarified the feature’s privacy settings following the online backlash. He emphasized that location is only shared if users actively choose to do so and can be restricted to a select group of individuals. He reiterated that, “To start, location sharing is completely off.”

When enabled, the app updates a user’s location whenever the app is opened or resumes activity in the background. For parents utilizing app supervision for their children, Instagram promises notifications if a teen begins sharing their location, facilitating conversations about safe sharing practices.

Location Sharing and Coercive Control Risks

Research from the eSafety Commission highlights a connection between location-sharing tools and an elevated risk of tech-based coercive control. This type of control involves using digital platforms to monitor, manipulate, or intimidate a partner or former partner.

A 2024 report indicated that a significant portion of young adults have normalized such digital monitoring within relationships. The study found that nearly one in five young individuals found it acceptable to track a partner’s location.

“Young people have become so accustomed to a certain level of online tracking and monitoring by family and friends that it wouldn’t seem strange to expect similar digital access in a romantic relationship. It isn’t an exaggeration to say preventing tech-based coercive control, and the attitudes that condone it, can save lives.”

—Julie Inman Grant, eSafety Commissioner

The findings suggest a concerning trend where digital monitoring is increasingly seen as a normal aspect of relationships, potentially blurring the lines into harmful control tactics. In 2023, the Australian government launched the national plan to end gender-based violence, aiming to address these underlying attitudes and behaviors.

Instagram’s History of Privacy Issues

This latest controversy follows closely on the heels of a recent federal jury decision finding Meta liable for exploiting sensitive health data. The lawsuit alleged that Meta misused health information gathered through the Flo app, a period and family planning tracker, for targeted advertising.

Evidence presented during the trial suggested Meta knowingly acquired confidential health data from the third-party app, with some employees reportedly making light of the sensitive nature of the information. Lead attorney Carol Villegas stated, “This case was about more than just data … it was about dignity, trust, and accountability.” The final damages in this case are still to be determined.