Islamabad, Nov 16: Snapchat Will Let Parents Track Children with Automatic Alerts in New Update
Snapchat, once celebrated for its disappearing messages, is evolving into a location-focused social media app with the introduction of real-time location-sharing.
This new feature, part of the Family Center, allows family members to share their live locations, enabling parents and teens to request updates from each other.
Parents can also oversee location-sharing preferences to enhance safety. Additionally, users can set notifications to inform family members when someone arrives at or leaves specific places, such as home or school.
The launch of this feature comes amidst legal challenges for Snapchat.
The platform is currently embroiled in a lawsuit filed by New Mexico’s Attorney General, accusing it of neglecting concerns over child exploitation and harmful activities.
The lawsuit specifically criticizes the disappearing messages feature, arguing that it obstructs efforts to investigate and prevent such issues.
This situation underscores Snapchat’s ongoing struggle to address safety concerns while maintaining its core functionality.
The location-sharing feature has also drawn criticism over privacy risks. Many worries about the potential dangers of sharing real-time location information.
In response, Snapchat has ensured the feature is optional, restricted it to trusted contacts like friends and family, and encouraged users to routinely update their privacy settings. As Snapchat strives to innovate, it faces the challenge of protecting user security while maintaining trust.
