In just a few days, a new location functionality On Instagram triggered a whole controversy. We show you how to deactivate it.
Presented as a simple way to discover where your contacts are and to see their geolocated content, the “cards” functionality quickly sparked a wave of criticism.
Why the “card” makes people talk
Instagram says that position sharing is deactivated by default and does not activate automatically. However, if you have already given access to your location in Instagram, you may already appear on the card without knowing it.
You can choose who sees your position: all your friends (the subscribers you follow in return), your close friends (Close Friends), a precise selection or no one. You can also, quite simply, do not end up on an Instagram card.
Instagram
The main concerns expressed by Internet users and cybersecurity experts concern the risk of hunting (stalking), confusion on the real scope of sharing and additional data collection by META.
This card is officially launched in the United States, but several users in Canada also have access to it. We did the test, and we actually see where our contacts are located which use the functionality.
It’s not just Instagram
Disable geolocation on Instagram will not erase your digital trace. Many other applications collect your data and, according to your settings, also record your position. But that’s a subject for another article.
How to deactivate the Instagram card
1. Disable access to the location for Instagram on your phone.
- iPhone: settings → Instagram → Location → “Never” or “ask next time”.
- Android: Settings → Applications → Instagram → Authorizations → Location → “Refuse”.
2. Check the settings in Instagram
- Open Instagram and press the Messages icon at the top right.
- Press “card” at the top of your reception box.
- Press the settings icon (top right).
- Under “Who can see your position”, choose “Nobody”.
- Confirm your choice.
3. Do not add location to your publications
- Avoid the “Add a place” option on your publications (all kinds!).
- Remove any already “tagged” place by modifying your publications.
- Go to a private account to limit the visibility of geolocated content.
*Methods may vary from one device to another.
