Like WhatsApp, Snapchat now has a real-time location-sharing feature

Snapchat allows users to share real-time locations, just like WhatsApp.

You don't have to depend just on WhatsApp, now Snapchat users too can share real-time location. (REUTERS)

Snapchat users will have a new way of keeping track of their family and friends. Just like WhatsApp, Snapchat has introduced a real-time location sharing feature to be used as a temporary buddy system while friends and family are en route to their home. This Snapchat feature is similar to the Find My app on iOS, where users can see and share precise locations. WhatsApp too offers sharing live location feature.

Snapchat users can enable live location sharing for a certain period of time from 15 minutes to a few hours with any of their friends on the app. Users can even pause sharing their live location without sending the other party a notification to prevent being stalked, Snapchat says. The Snapchat feature will work only after you enable it manually or else it remains disabled by default and there is no option to share real-time location with all Snapchat friends.

This is the first time, Snapchat is rolling out this feature for all users. However, users already have the option to allow friends to see where they were when they last used the app. SnapMap is quite popular and is used by 250 million Snapchat users a month.

Moreover, Snapchat is collaborating with On Us, a national nonprofit program focused on stopping campus sexual assault. In addition to the buddy system feature, Snapchat will also include an in-app message about bystander awareness. Here's how you can enable Snapchat buddy feature and share live location

How to share live location on Snapchat:

Time	Tools	Supplies
20 Minutes	Mobile Smartphone	Updated browser Internet

Step 1:

To enable the setting, open the Snapchat. 

Step 2:

Next, navigate to a friend’s profile and tap on the live location feature. 

Step 3:

Select the duration of location sharing and confirm the same.

Step 4:

Once done, the status of live location sharing will be visible within the chat window with that friend.