Apple introduced the ‘Precise Location’ feature with iOS 14 on the iPhone for more precise location locking. Not surprisingly, Google also offers the same thing on Android. With precise location, you can use and share precise location with third-party apps. Social networking apps like Instagram and Snapchat will require precise location in order to tag the exact location. Here’s what exact location means on apps like Instagram and whether it affects your privacy.
Some Instagram users have reported the company sharing your exact location with your followers when you tag a location in a post or story. Some of them have even gone viral with thousands of likes and comments. In this post, we will clear all the myths surrounding precise location access on social apps like Instagram on iPhone and Android.
When is exact location useful
Precise location is useful when specific apps need your exact location to work as expected. For example, a ride-hailing, food delivery, or maps app may need your exact location to serve a taxi, deliver your meal, or help you navigate a new location quickly. Of course, that’s why you need to allow apps to access your exact location. Otherwise, you will continue to experience errors and delays in orders when using those apps.
Exact location sounds scary, but you should be fine under certain circumstances. Applications require such permission to work smoothly without hiccups. Apps like Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, etc. may ask for your exact location for better content management. However, they won’t (at least that’s what we’d like to believe) track your location or share it with your followers or social media friends.
As mentioned above, Instagram does not share your exact location with anyone, including your followers. The app requires location permission to attach your favorite place to a post or story. No one can see or track your live location from your posts or stories. The question is why does Instagram need your exact location in the first place?
Instagram asks for your exact location when you want to share your exact location in a post or story. Maybe you’ve found a new favorite restaurant or resort and want to share the same with your followers, friends, and family on Instagram. Thanks to precise location access on Instagram, you can easily tag your current location with a post. You don’t have to type and search for places manually.
In general, Instagram requires precise location access to improve user experience on iPhone and Android. If you’re a powerful Instagram user and are well aware of the downsides of sharing exact locations in your posts and stories, then enabling permissions on your iPhone can be helpful. On the other hand, if you are a regular Instagram user, you can read the next section to turn off location access.
Disable exact location on Instagram
Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram) is not known for its security best practices. If you don’t want Instagram to track your location all the time, you can easily turn off precise location access on iPhone and Android. Follow along to find out how.
Iphone
Step 1: Open Settings on iPhone.
Step 2: Scroll to Privacy & Security.
Step 3: Open Location Services.
Step 4: Scroll to Instagram and you have four options to choose from.
Never: Apps can’t access your location on iPhone.
Ask next time or when I share: It’s the best option for those who care about privacy. In your normal browsing experience, Instagram cannot access your location. When you want to share a post with a location, Instagram will ask for permission.
While using the app: Instagram can only access your location when actively using the app. After you move Instagram to the Recent Apps menu (Multitasking), Instagram can’t access your location.
Exact location: Let Instagram use your specific location. With this setting turned off, apps can only determine your approximate location.
You should choose ‘Ask next time or When I share’ or ‘When using the app’ for the ideal Instagram experience.
Android
Step 1: Find the Instagram app icon from the home screen or app drawer menu.
Step 2: Long press on it and open the app info menu.
Step 3: Select ‘Permissions’.
Step 4: Open location permissions.
Step 5: Disable the ‘Use exact location’ toggle from the following menu.
Keep the ‘Allow only when using the app’ permission for your Instagram experience.
Understand exact location on Instagram
In response to a viral post, Instagram clarifies that it does not share location details with any of its followers. The social networking app uses your location when you tag places in your posts and that’s about it. Even Snapchat does the same when you use the Snap map function. Whenever you see someone creating unnecessary FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt) around an exact location on Instagram or any other social app, share this post and clear the air.
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
