Your privacy matters: Instagram’s new location feature
Thursday, 21 August 2025
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Stay informed about new app features and protect your privacy online.
Instagram’s latest functionality update included a new location feature, allowing real-time location-sharing via a “Friend Map”. Meta states this is an opt-in feature and security and privacy settings can be designated to selected contacts. However, upon launch, many were alarmed to find their whereabouts visible without their knowledge.
ABC News – Instagram's new location-sharing feature is raising privacy concerns
This has prompted a wave of social media viral warnings and tutorials on how to disable the feature.
Social media is a powerful tool for connection and collaboration, the speed of technological developments and the communication convenience offered by social apps can easily lull us to rely on software providers to look after security and privacy and for us to overlook our power in ensuring our safety and privacy.
Be a responsible individual, stay informed and be proactive about your digital safety! Whether you’re sharing memes, collaborating on a group project, taking a short reel around the University, take a moment to consider how this can affect your privacy or others!
What can you do?
Maintaining good privacy hygiene is essential. Here are some quick tips:
- Review app permissions regularly. Disable location access unless its absolutely necessary.
- Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication where it is available.
- Be cautious about sharing personal details like your address, class schedule or travel plans.
- Report suspicious behaviour or abuse to platform moderators or the eSafety Commissioner.
Support and Resources for Students
If you have reason to believe there has been a cybersecurity incident, please report it via the ECU IT Service Desk.
If you believe there has been a breach of privacy, or a data breach involving personal information that is not a cyber security incident, please lodge this using this notification form, or contact Privacy@ECU.
- ECU Library’s Digital Essentials Guides offer practical advice on managing your digital identity and protecting personal information.
- The eSafety Guide provides detailed instructions on how to secure your accounts and report harmful content across popular platforms.
- The Tertiary Hub by the eSafety Commissioner includes student-specific resources on cyberbullying, image-based abuse, and coercive control.
- You can also check out Instagram's help guide for managing your location information settings.