Snapchat launching new feature to track location history: Know what it is and how it works

Snapchat is rolling out a new feature called “Footsteps” to iOS users, with plans to extend it to Android users soon, according to a report by TechCrunch. This feature, previously only available to Snapchat+ subscribers, lets users track their travel history on the Snap Map. With “Footsteps,” you can see how much of the world you’ve explored and which locations you’ve visited, based on the Snaps saved in your Memories. While some users might find this feature exciting for keeping track of their adventures, others may have concerns about privacy.
The new feature, called “Footsteps,” allows users to see where they’ve travelled by displaying their movements on the Snap Map. It creates a visual representation of your travel history, showing how much of your city or country you’ve explored. For example, the app could show you that you’ve explored 30 per cent of your city or 5 per cent of Paris if you visited there over the summer.
Initially, the feature uses past Snaps saved in your Memories to build your travel history. After that, it will track your location in real-time, using location data to update your footsteps. This means that Snapchat will no longer rely on your Snaps to generate travel details but will instead use real-time location tracking. However, if Ghost Mode is activated (a setting that hides your location from friends), Snapchat won’t be able to track your movements.
Footsteps work by combining your location data and your saved Snaps. The app takes note of where you’ve been based on the Snaps you saved and updates this with real-time location data as you travel. To use the feature, Ghost Mode must be turned off, allowing Snapchat to access your location. However, this information is private and will only be visible to you.
You can choose to share your travels with friends by creating a custom sticker that showcases your adventures. The app also lets you turn the feature off or clear your Footsteps data if you decide you no longer want to use it. You can do this by going into the app’s settings under the “Map” section, where you can either turn off Footsteps or clear your travel history.
While the idea of tracking your travel history may raise concerns, Snapchat has made efforts to protect users’ privacy. Footsteps are only visible to you, meaning that no one else can see where you’ve been unless you choose to share it. Additionally, you have full control over the feature, with the ability to turn it off or delete your travel data at any time. This gives users a sense of security, knowing that their location history won’t be stored permanently unless they want it to be.
Though Snapchat collects location data, the company has ensured that users can manage their privacy settings. However, some users may still be uncomfortable with the app tracking their real-time location, even if the data is only visible to them. Whether it breaches privacy depends on personal preferences and how much control users feel they have over their own data.