Snapchat – new feature – “Snap Maps”

Last week, Snapchat introduced a new feature call Snap Maps. This location-based map allows users to see where in the country their Snapchat contacts are, as well as seeing location-based photos and videos. 

The Snap Map shows a user’s Bitmoji, their cartoon avatar within Snapchat, pinpointed on a world map. Users can then zoom into the map to see the exact location of their friends.

Sharing location can be a risky thing to do, so please remind you daughter to -

• Only share their location with people they know in person. Never share their location with strangers.
• Never add contacts to Snapchat if they don’t know them in person – this applies to ALL social media apps

As the contract holder, parents should also regularly review their daughter's settings (again, this applies to all social media apps) and take an active decision about whether you want people to know their location. Remember you can switch this off at any time. Think about where your daughter is sharing their location. Location services such as Snap Maps can lead people to your house. 

Think about what times they are using the app and whether these are locations you want to them share – if not, then turn this off within your settings.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jun/23/snapchat-maps-privacy-safety-concerns

Further reading: Introducing SnapMaps (ChildNet)