Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri and Instagram’s social media team are refuting claims that the Instagram app is tracking location data and sharing it with followers looking for your exact location. A post went viral, mostly on Instagram, claiming that “a recent iOS update” made sure that “people can now find your exact location from Instagram.” This prompted many people to go into their phone’s Instagram app settings and disable location permissions for the app. The Instagram Communications Twitter posted the viral post, clarifying what Instagram’s policies on location data are.
I wanted to share this 🧵 for clarity. Location Services is a device setting on your phone, not a new Instagram feature, and it powers things like location tags. We do not share your position with other people. https://t.co/6R6XMOCppj
– Adam Mosseri (@mosseri) August 25, 2022
People can manage location services through their device settings and tag locations on their posts if they want to share that information.
– Instagram Communications (@Instagram Communications) August 25, 2022
Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri explains that Instagram’s device location powers location tag capabilities, but the app won’t be a user’s location with other people. A viral post on Instagram isn’t always the best place to find reliable information – an information verification is required. The original post never mentioned whether such a location feature was the work of Instagram, instead it refers to “a recent iOS update” with no basis. If you are concerned that an app is using your location, you should disable it from the app settings of your devices. Both iOS and Android also offer options to share approximate location (instead of an exact point), and both can record history logs of which apps access location data.
through | Viral post (caption updated)
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