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In a move to enhance user safety, Snapchat is rolling out new location-tracking features for parents. The changes, aimed at boosting parental control, will provide greater visibility into children’s Snap Map settings, allowing parents to monitor their kids’ whereabouts more closely.
The new tools are anticipated to be available in the coming weeks and will be integrated into Snapchat’s Family Centre, the app’s designated portal for parental controls. Parents will be able to request access to their child’s location or opt to reveal their own through this update.
Furthermore, parents may establish “travel notifications” to receive notifications when their child departs specific locations, including their residence or school.
Parents can currently monitor their children’s interactions through Family Centre; however, the new feature will enable them to identify the individuals with whom their teenager has revealed their Snap Map location. This addition addresses apprehensions that Snapchat’s location-sharing feature may have facilitated hazardous encounters, such as connecting teenagers with strangers, including potential predators or drug traffickers.
The New Mexico Attorney General submitted a lawsuit earlier this year that brought these concerns to light. The lawsuit accused Snapchat of neglecting to ensure the safety of its location-sharing functions.
To further alleviate these concerns, Snapchat has underscored that users are only permitted to disclose their location to their contacts, not to strangers. Additionally, the organization intends to send users additional reminders to motivate them to meticulously evaluate their Snap Map settings to optimize their privacy.
