Should you be scared of Snapchat’s new feature?

“Over 7 billion pictures and videos are viewed by Snapchat users every single day.” – Confirmed with Fortune.

Being able to know where your child was in real-time sounds great, doesn’t it? But what about if it’s on a social media platform where any number of “friends” could see where they are too?

When does sharing become too much? And has SnapChat’s new feature, Snap Map, stepped over the line?

First, let’s talk about Snap Map

The new feature allows Snapchat users to share where they are on the ‘Snap Map’ using a smartphone’s GPS sensor.

As Snap Inc describes it: “We’ve built a whole new way to explore the world! See what’s happening, find your friends, and get inspired to go on an adventure!”

Now, who sees what on the Snap Map depends on the setting your child selects.

1. Ghost Mode (Private): Your child’s location won’t be visible to anyone else on Snap Map.
2. My Friends: Their location will be visible to all their Snapchat contacts, as long as they are mutual friends.
3. Select Friends: Your child can choose which friends they want to share their location with.

Ok, so far it doesn’t sound too bad, right? Only their friends will be able to see them. And the news gets better! Their location is only updated on Snap Map when they’re using Snapchat. Their location isn’t updated in the background of their phone.

So, why are police issuing child safety warnings?

The Snap Map Caveat

Well, it’s not all sunshine and daisies.

Snapchat have informed users that any ‘snaps’ (images or videos that last for 24 hours on their account) submitted to ‘Our Story’ can still show up on the Map. This is regardless of which location setting they choose.

Wait, there’s more.

Snapchat users can also search for locations on Snap Map, such as individual schools. The app will display any public photos and videos sent by students. We don’t know about you, but we don’t like that functionality.

Then there are the consequences Snapchat hasn’t thought about…

In their quest to unite the whole world, Snapchat has forgotten that kids can be cruel. It only takes one person on the Snap Map not to be at the same event as a group of classmates for them to be teased about not being where the ‘popular kids’ are.

While they tried to take into account parents stalking concerns, they also forgot that kids can often fall out with each other. It will take one ‘ex-friend’ to make a Snapchat user’s life unbearable.

Remember, the Snap Map functionality allows people to build up a picture of where your kid lives, goes to school and how they spend their time.

Even Larry Magid from ConnectSafely.org, told The Guardian: “Users should be aware of the feature and review it periodically – if a friend becomes an ex-friend, for example.”

And how do you know who follows your children?

What if it isn’t just ‘friends’ that can see your child’s Snap Map? Do you know all their followers on their Snapchat profile? Do they?

Of course, we trust our kids not to add random strangers on their private social media accounts. They’ve had stranger danger drilled into them by the time they have their own social media profiles.

Still, it’s not uncommon to hear of strangers adding our kids on other social media platforms. We’d be naive to think that Snapchat was immune. Online strangers are a whole new breed. Posing as other young girls or boys and luring our kids into a false sense of security, these strangers become your child’s friend online.

Until they don’t see the harm in sharing where they are on Snap Map with them.

Suddenly that picture they’ve begun to build up of where your child lives, goes to school and how they spend their time becomes even more terrifying. What if there are public pictures and videos at these locations they can use too?

What can we do about it?

Sure, we can set our child’s Snap to ghost mode. We can demand they delete Snapchat (they’ll only reinstall it again when we’re not looking). Or we can make sure that they only have access to these tools at certain times.

For example, I’d want to block Snapchat on my child’s phone when they are at school. That way, public images and where they’re educated isn’t shared on Snap Map. I would also definitely block it while we were away on a family holiday as well.

(I wouldn’t want people knowing we’re not home, especially if Snap Map shares where we live.)

Come to think about it, there are many times I would want this particular app blocked. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind my child having Snapchat (ok, maybe a little). But I also don’t want my child’s entire life documented for everyone, including friends who aren’t friends but “FB friends” (as they call it), to see.

I want to protect my child’s privacy in a way they can’t even comprehend yet. That’s why I believe the new Snapchat feature, Snap Map, has gone too far.

Do you have any concerns about the new Snapchat feature, Snap Map? Get in touch with us in the comments below.