The Snapchat app now allows users to share their live location with a trusted friend, even if the app is running in the background. The app has allowed location sharing using its Snap Map feature for a while now. However, to share the real-time location, the app had to be open and running in the foreground for updating the location status as one moves around.
The Snap Map, which is now available on the web, allows users to find content shared by users across the globe. All one has to do is look at the heatmap and discover all the public Snaps shared from that area. The same applies to Stories, finding Friends, and even interacting with businesses in a region and placing them on a favorites list with a like gesture. Taking a leaf out of WhatsApp’s location sharing trick and Apple’s very own Find My solution, the Snap Map now offers something that is actually a meaningful safety-centric addition.
The new buddy system on Snapchat allows users to share their real-time location with a trusted friend or family member, with the added convenience that the app doesn’t have to be kept open for the entire duration. Instead, the real-time location is updated, even if the app is running in the background. To do so, open the Snapchat app and swipe left on the home screen to open the chat list. Select a chat with a trusted friend or family member and then tap on the profile picture. On the open profile page, users will see an option called Share My Live Location. When using the feature for the first time, the app will show a dialog box telling users that this feature is meant for close friends and family members only.
For Safety, With Safeguards
After dismissing the initial warning message, users can select the duration they want to share their real-time location. The Snapchat app currently offers three options — 15 minutes, one hour and eight hours. Tapping on the duration will start the live location sharing system. Once location sharing has been activated, a small window appears on the chat page. And underneath the map view is a “stop sharing” button to pause the location sharing once they’ve reached their destination safely. As mentioned above, users can minimize the app or lock their phones without worrying about ending the location sharing.
It is worth mentioning here that users can only share live location with a person that is mutual friends with a user. It can’t be broadcast widely or shared with a total stranger. As a precautionary measure, location sharing access is set to off by default and must be manually enabled from within the Settings section. Users can specify the contacts that can see their location and also selectively exclude those they don’t want to share the geographical information with.
Source: Snapchat