In August 2025, Instagram rolled out its new “Map” feature, triggering panic online.
Creators flooded reels and stories claiming the app is secretly sharing your live location—even suggesting it’s a threat to women’s safety. Let’s get the facts straight: Instagram’s Map does not share your location unless you turn it on yourself. Period.
This feature is 100% opt-in. You’re not visible on the map unless you manually enable location sharing. You also choose who sees it—Close Friends, Custom List, or No One. If you never touched this feature, you’re not being tracked. Meta, Adam Mosseri, and every verified source have confirmed this publicly.
So why the panic? Because many users are seeing friends on the map and assuming Instagram is auto-tracking. That’s false. Most of these appearances are from location-tagged posts or stories, not real-time tracking. Others turned it on without realising what they allowed. That’s on the user—not the platform.
Real concerns still exist. Many users don’t realise how precise the location can be once shared. Others don’t know where to disable it. Here’s how:
- Open yourInstagram DMs, tap the Map icon, then the settings gear icon.
- Set“Who can see your location” to No One or a custom list.
- For full control, go to yourphone’s settings → Apps → Instagram → Location Access and set it to “Never”. This blocks the app from accessing your location at the system level, even if you mistakenly opt in.
Creators must stop pushing fear for engagement. Location settings aren’t hidden—they’re just unused by most people. The problem isn’t secret tracking. The problem is digital ignorance being amplified by viral content that spreads faster than facts.
Let’s stop fear-mongering and push digital literacy. Panic doesn’t protect you—awareness does.
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ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’
The Akancha Srivastava Foundation is India’s leading social impact initiative dedicated to advancing cyber safety awareness and education. Established in February 2017, this not-for-profit Section 8 organization is a trusted voice in promoting safe online practices across the nation.
Distinguished Board of Advisors
Guided by an honorary advisory board of esteemed leaders:
- Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chhattisgarh Police)
- ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh Police)
- ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra Police)
- Dr. Poonam Verma (Principal, SSCBS, Delhi University)
Our Mission
The Foundation is committed to educating, empowering, and building bridges between the public and authorities on critical cyber safety issues. Additionally, we specialize in forensics training for law enforcement, equipping them with the skills needed to tackle cybercrime effectively.