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How does Snapchat share location work?

How does Snapchat share location work?

Snapchat’s location sharing feature allows users to share their real-time location with friends. It gives friends an idea of where you are without having to constantly update them. Location sharing on Snapchat works through a few different features within the app.

Location Sharing Settings

Within Snapchat’s settings, users can control who they share their location with and for how long. There are three location sharing options:

  • Ghost Mode – Your location is not visible to anyone else on Snapchat
  • My Friends – Your real-time location is shared with your friends on Snapchat
  • Select Friends – You pick specific friends to share your location with

In addition to choosing who to share with, you can set a timer for how long you want to share your location. Options range from 15 minutes to 8 hours. Your location will stop being shared when the time is up.

Sharing Location in Chat

Within individual or group chats on Snapchat, users can opt to share their location. This will send a snap containing a map view of their current location to everyone in the chat. The location snap disappears after it’s opened like a normal snap.

To share location in chat:

  1. Open the chat you want to share with
  2. Tap the location pin icon in the top right
  3. Choose to share your current location, or a custom location by dropping a pin
  4. Select how long you want to share your location
  5. Tap “Send” and your location snap will be shared in chat

Snap Map

The Snap Map shows you where your friends are if they have location sharing turned on. You can view the map by pinching out from the camera screen. It will show friends’ Bitmoji around their current locations.

On the Snap Map, friends appear as their Bitmoji character on the map if Location Services is enabled. You can tap a friend’s Bitmoji to see their public Story snaps from that area, or send them a chat.

Ghost Mode

Ghost Mode lets you use the Snap Map while keeping your location private. Your Bitmoji will not show up on any friends’ Snap Maps while in Ghost Mode. You can turn it on by:

  1. Going to your profile on the Snap Map
  2. Tapping the settings gear icon
  3. Turning on Ghost Mode

Sharing on the Snap Map

In addition to passively appearing on the map, you can share your location on Snapchat in a few different ways:

  • Send your location to specific friends – Open a chat, tap the location pin, choose how long to share
  • Add your location to a public Snap – Take a Snap, tap the location pin, adjust location settings, share publicly
  • Create a Story with your location – Take a Snap for your Story, tap the location pin, adjust location settings, share to Story

Who Can See Your Location

Only friends you’ve added on Snapchat can view your location. It will not be visible to strangers or people you haven’t added as friends. Remember:

  • Ghost Mode means no one can see where you are
  • My Friends shares your location with all friends
  • Select Friends lets you pick specific friends

You can customize for how long you want friends to see your location when sharing it. If you have My Friends selected with no time limit, your location will stream to friends anytime the app is open.

Location Accuracy

The accuracy of Snapchat’s location sharing depends on a few factors:

  • GPS signal strength – Outdoors with clear skies provides the most accurate locations
  • Network connection – Poor internet makes location less precise
  • Device capabilities – Newer smartphones with advanced GPS tend to be more accurate

In general, Snapchat can determine your location within several feet outdoors. Inside buildings it relies on Wi-Fi and cell towers which is less precise. Certain snaps will display a blue ring around your Bitmoji indicating lower confidence in location accuracy.

Controlling Who Sees Your Location

Snapchat gives you complete control over who can view your location. A few tips:

  • Enable Ghost Mode when you don’t want to appear on the map
  • Set your default sharing to My Friends or Select Friends
  • Choose a short sharing time (15 mins to 1 hour)
  • Only share location in chat when needed

You can update these settings anytime in Snapchat’s settings menu. It’s also good practice to periodically review the list of friends you’re sharing with. Remove anyone you no longer want seeing your location.

Location History

Snapchat is designed delete shared locations very quickly. However, some location data may be retained by the app in certain circumstances:

  • Location data might remain on Snapchat’s servers for up to 30 days – but not be visible to friends
  • Law enforcement may be able to request location history with a warrant
  • Some location data may help improve Snapchat’s services

In general, Snapchat does not retain extensive historical location information. Shared locations are meant to be ephemeral. But remnants of location data can remain stored in Snapchat’s database even if no longer visible in the app itself.

Parental Controls

Snapchat allows parents to enable parental controls that restrict location sharing:

  • Disable Snap Map access to prevent kids from seeing locations
  • Limit ability to share location in Snapchat
  • Turn off “Quick Add” to prevent strangers from adding kids

This can prevent unwanted location sharing. Parents will need access to their kids’ Snapchat account to enable these restrictions. It provides protection for younger users.

Conclusion

Snapchat’s location sharing features let you give friends insight into where you are in a fun, low-pressure way. You get to control who sees your location and for how long it’s visible. While not completely invisible, shared locations are meant to be ephemeral and temporary.

Location sharing only works among friends on Snapchat. The accuracy depends on phone sensors and internet connection quality. Parents can restrict location sharing if needed. Overall it’s a convenient way to visually share your whereabouts with your closest friends.