The social network Instagram has recently been tracking the exact location of its users. TECHBOOK shows how to disable the setting.
On Instagram, it has been possible for several years to set the appropriate location for a posted image. So everyone can see where the recording was made. You can also create locations yourself. What is new, however, is that the app is very precise tracks the location of its users. We are not talking about an approximate location, but about exact coordinates. If you don’t want this, you have to deactivate the function yourself in the settings. TECHBOOK shows how it works.
Disable exact location on Instagram
The fact that apps like Instagram know the location of their users is nothing new. If you install such an application and create an account, you agree to this condition, among other things. Instagram and Co. sell some of the data on, but also use it themselves. The fact that an app can now determine the exact whereabouts of a person without explicit consent or even just a reference to it is new. Special positioning and navigation services need this information to function. With social networks, on the other hand, this is not absolutely necessary and can sometimes even be disadvantageous, if not dangerous for users. Because it would be all too easy to find out exactly where a person is at the moment. Therefore, Instagram’s location sharing should definitely be deactivated.
To do this, follow these steps:
- Open the settings of your smartphone.
- Under the “Location Services” or “Location” tab you will find a list of all apps that can access your location.
- Find “Instagram” in this list and tap on it.
- From here you have several options. You can deny Instagram access to your location entirely by selecting the “Never” option. Alternatively, there are the gradations “Ask next time or when sharing” and “When using the app”. If you choose the latter option, you also have the choice of disclosing your exact location or not.
Also interesting: How do I recognize who is currently online on Instagram?
Deactivation strongly recommended
Instagram is by no means the only platform that tracks the location of its users. However, the level of accuracy is new – and worrying. Because even if Instagram does not publish the location data, hackers could theoretically access it. Criminals such as stalkers or burglars could also get hold of the data. It was precisely this fact that caused outrage on social networks. Many specifically recommend turning off the precise location feature.
In addition, Instagram shares the data with the related networks like Facebook, WhatsApp and Co., which also belong to the meta group. A general deactivation is therefore also recommended from this point of view.