Instagram Introduces Map Feature Stirs Concerns Over Safety

Instagram Introduces Map Feature Stirs Concerns Over Safety - A Guide for Parents

In a move that underscores the ongoing struggle to hold tech giants accountable, a bipartisan coalition of 37 state attorneys general in the USA have called on Instagram to implement safeguards regarding its latest feature, the Map. Launched on August 6, this feature allows users to share their profile picture and live location with mutual followers.

The new feature has raised concerns among the coalition, who argue that it poses risks to children and vulnerable users. The attorneys general have urged Instagram to take immediate action, such as banning minors from using real-time location sharing, clearly warning adult users about the risks, and ensuring an easy opt-out for adults who enable the tool.

Meta, the parent company of Instagram, stresses that the Map feature is off by default and can be disabled at any time. Users can opt out by going into Instagram's settings, finding the "Location Sharing" or "Map" option, and toggling it off. For parents supervising teen accounts on Instagram, notifications will be sent if their child activates location sharing, and they have the option to block access altogether.

Instagram notes that teen accounts include built-in protections limiting who can contact them and what content they can see. However, the attorneys general are pushing for more stringent measures to protect user safety, particularly for children and vulnerable populations.

The controversy over Instagram Map underscores a broader issue of child safety on social media, which has become one of the few bipartisan issues in U.S. politics. Dozens of states have sued Meta, alleging its algorithms knowingly addict children and exacerbate mental health issues.

This is not the first time Meta, or its predecessor Facebook, has faced scrutiny over privacy, safety, and youth protections. In 2011, Facebook agreed to 20 years of privacy audits after being accused of misleading users about how their data was shared. The Cambridge Analytica scandal in 2018, where millions of users' data was harvested without consent for political targeting, further highlighted these concerns.

In 2021, leaked documents revealed internal research showing Instagram harmed teens' mental health, particularly girls, sparking bipartisan calls for reform. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has been at the forefront of this movement, criticizing Instagram for prioritizing engagement over safety and already suing both Meta and Snapchat parent Snap Inc. over similar issues.

As the debate over the Instagram Map feature continues, the attorneys general's call for action serves as a reminder of the ongoing need to prioritize user safety in the digital age. Users are encouraged to think twice before broadcasting their live location, especially in public or unfamiliar places, and to stay informed about the privacy settings and features of the platforms they use.