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Here’s What You Need To Know About The ‘Scary’ Snapchat Update

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Parents around the world are panicking about the latest Snapchat update, mostly due to a viral video explaining the harmful ways the new SnapMap feature can be abused. The SnapMap update uses your GPS location to show friends where their Snapchat friends are hanging out, displaying a virtual avatar of them at their real-life location.

The video gained so much traction it also inevitably made its way to Malta’s The Salottbut before we start freaking out too much here’s a few things to note.

If you don’t want people to know where you are you can turn on ‘Ghost Mode’

This feature makes sure you’re the only one with access to your location. It’ll save a lot of awkward freakouts when people can pin-point where you are to the nearest meter.

Here’s how to turn off your location on SnapMap:

1. When you’re on the app, pinch the screen inwards to ‘zoom out’ to the map view.

2. Tap the settings options (usually found in the top right corner).

3. Select the level of privacy you want. Friends only, selected friends or full-on ghost mode.

Done!

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While the app showing your exact location just because you’re browsing your friends’ stories is kinda creepy, it does offer up some super cool prospects.

1. You can check out stories from across the world

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2. You can see hot-spots of activity globally

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3. It shows you places that are trending locally

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The concept is very innovative, and while it opens the door for a lot of potential problems, it’s also changing the game once more. If you’re one of those people who is cool with the location tracker just keep a few things in mind:

1. It’ll log where you are even if you don’t post a story

So make sure you’re not Snapping on the job (or at least make sure you won’t get in trouble for it).

2. It’s probably a good idea to switch to ghost mode before going out to drink

You don’t really know what you’re going to get up to, but you can assume people knowing your location may not be ideal.

3. Make sure you’re not lying to people

It’s a very quick way to get caught lying to friends or family, so just be upfront about the party you were invited to that a friend wasn’t, or hit up that ghost mode.

Tag a friend who needs the advice

READ NEXT: Maltese Politics Gets Way Funnier With Snapchat

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