Your Instagram location visible to stalkers via app?

A viral post claims stalkers can access the exact location of Instagram users through the app. The accusation has forced Instagram to react.

Here is what Instagram says on a viral post claiming stalkers can access exact location via the app. (AP)

Instagram has finally responded to the posts claiming that stalkers can get the exact location of the users of the app after its recent update. It can be known that a rumour has been circulating on social media saying that the recent Instagram update activates 'precise location' on the phone of the user. This can enable stalkers to access the exact location of the Instagram user.

The claim was made by an influencer marketing firm and amplified on Instagram by other users, according to a report by MoneyControl. The message claiming that the stalkers and criminals can access the location of the Instagram users read, "Since a new update, people can find your EXACT location from Instagram and this is being used by individuals to target people to commit crimes including theft, stalking etc."

"Please make sure 'precise location' is turned off. You can do this by going to your phones settings, Instagram, location and then make sure precise location is turned OFF," the post further advised.

Reacting on the above mentioned post, Instagram's PR team has clarified that the app does not share the user's location with anyone and it uses precise location for things like location tags and maps features.

In a series of tweets, Instagram Comms said, "We've seen a meme going around about how Instagram uses “precise location." To be clear, we don't share your location with others. Similar to other social media companies, we use precise location for things like location tags and maps features. People can manage Location Services via their device settings, and tag locations on their posts if they want to share that information."

To be clear, we don't share your location with others. Similar to other social media companies, we use precise location for things like location tags and maps features.

— Instagram Comms (@InstagramComms) August 25, 2022

It can be known that precise location is not something new that is being found on Instagram. According to a report by PC Magazine, Apple had unveiled precise location in the year 2020, while Google launched it with Android 12.

There are several applications that need to access your exact location in order to guide you like Google Maps, Uber, among others. The feature helps the user to get step-by-step directions to the places they want to go. While social media apps like Instagram, Facebook, among others, use precise location to help users by providing them with relevant locations to tag in their posts.