Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
The perils of living in a social media age of becoming so clear to families. We open our lives to public scrutiny by showing people what we ate, what we wore, where we went and what we feel.
Now on one popular App, SnapChat there is a new feature called Snap Maps. This allows users to find friend’s locations and to see who is hanging out with whom.
Snap Maps tracks users’ locations in real time which raises my concerns about safety and I worry that it could be used to stalk or bully. Snap Maps is automatically downloaded onto the App when it’s updated.
Luckily, there is a feature called Ghost Mode, where a user’s location is not able to be traced, but this isn’t automatically activated … you have to activate it in settings, so alarmingly everyone using the App is open to being traced until the setting is set to Ghost Mode.
My youngest isn’t allowed the App, so I sat the two oldest down and asked them what they knew about Snap Maps.
Both looked at me as if I had horns growing out the side of my head as when mum talks about anything remotely ‘hip’ they both feign disinterest. I once downloaded the SnapChat App to join the bandwagon of having cool photos with bunny ears or a flower halo. I sent my daughter a few photos of my latest discoveries, very pleased with myself as the age-defying filters really were quite good. Daughter was horrified that I was using it and I rapidly deleted the App leaving it to the much younger generation.
The children, however, hadn’t heard of Snap Maps so we chatted about it and the consequences of being tracked continuously in real time.
Initially, they thought it was quite fun to see who was where, if they were in the mall, moving in a car, having a haircut etc but then with we discussed this further and the disadvantages were clear to see.
Both agreed they only wanted to use the app in Ghost Mode.
No need to track my movements for the next few weeks, I’ll happily tell you I’m off to stunning rugged Cornwall but more of that next week. But don’t worry readers … an expat travelling and at home will have plenty to tell!
