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Instagram Tests Sharing Your Location History With Facebook (theverge.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the no-thanks dept.

Instagram is testing a feature that would allow it to share your location data with Facebook, regardless of whether you're using the app or not. Researcher Jane Manchun Wong says the option, which is being tested as a setting you have to opt-in to, allows Facebook products to "build and use a history of precise locations" which the company says "helps you explore what's around you, get more relevant ads and helps improve Facebook." The Verge reports: In a statement to TechCrunch, a spokesperson from Facebook confirmed that there was no guarantee the feature would see a wide release. "We often work on ideas that may evolve over time or ultimately not be tested or released. Instagram does not currently store Location History; we'll keep people updated with any changes to our location settings in the future."

Wong has a history of correctly identifying features like this before they're officially announced. She has previously leaked Facebook's dating application, Instagram's updated two-factor authentication, and Instagram's school bio feature. Facebook is also reportedly testing a map view to see friend's locations, similar to what's already offered by Snapchat. Instagram's data sharing could provide additional data points to power this functionality, while providing Facebook with more data to better target its ads.

17 of 26 comments (clear)

  1. Riiiiiight..... by NoNonAlphaCharsHere · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Because Instagram and Facebook are totally different companies.

    Oh. Wait...

  2. Nothing in this for users by jtara · · Score: 2

    There is nothing in this for users.

    The default location sharing (only when the app is open and screen not locked) is fine, and of course can be disabled.It helps tag locations easily.

    If you are paranoid, you can always disable location sharing, and still search for locations that you might want to tag.

    I didn't sign up for Instagram to be deluged with marking popups. Nor for Facebook to accumulate a database of their user's whereabouts and comings and goings. Nor to create a phantom Facebook profile if I don't have a Facebook account.

    You can "explore what's around you" with the current location sharing. If my phone is in my pocket, I don't want/need any "help" "exploring".

    I guess this is the beginning of the end of Instagram. It will be absorbed by The Zukerborg.

    1. Re:Nothing in this for users by jtara · · Score: 2

      I am also tired of *&^%$@! "influencers". I don't give a crap about ANY of that stuff which now is more than posts from my friends.

      I do realize that's part of the revenue model. Maybe there isn't a revenue model for the way people actually want to use apps like this.

      (Correction for post above, of course I meant "marketing popups", not "marking popups".)

    2. Re:Nothing in this for users by DogDude · · Score: 1

      There is nothing in this for users.

      There's a LOT in this for the users. They get to target their advertisements to the dummies even better. Why would you not think that'd be incredibly valuable to the users?

      --
      I don't respond to AC's.
    3. Re:Nothing in this for users by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Well, at least they're honest about what these people really are. They are just spelled wrong, it's "influenza".

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  3. I don't want ... by CaptainDork · · Score: 1

    ... any goddam relevant ads.

    --
    It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
    1. Re:I don't want ... by jtara · · Score: 3, Insightful

      There are relevant ads? Haven't seen any relevant ads. Lots of ads, all irrelevant.

      They claim, of course, they are trying to make them relevant.

      EVERYBODY trying to provide "relevant" ads, please get this: a zillion ads for a one-time purchase I made six months ago, and probably won't make again for several years is not "relevant".

      I am tired of ads for large fixed diesel engines.

      (And, no, I did not recently buy a large fixed diesel engine. A friend was interested in the possibility of converting one to marine use. Now I am inundated with Caterpillar ads. They gave up on the fixed engines, though, now they are trying to sell me graders. This must be worth even more than mesothelioma.)

    2. Re:I don't want ... by CaptainDork · · Score: 1

      My wife looked at pillows on Amazon and then told me Facebook was fraught with pillow ads.

      Creepy.

      --
      It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
  4. That is not even a bit creepy by gweihir · · Score: 1

    No, not at all...

    --
    Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
  5. How? by dohzer · · Score: 1

    Wait... how the hell did Instagram get my location data?!

    1. Re:How? by jtara · · Score: 3, Informative

      Wait... how the hell did Instagram get my location data?!

      If you want to tag the location of a post, it uses location data to show a list of nearby locations. It will ask permission the first time you do it.

      Now they want to track your location, even when your phone is in your pocket, and not using the app. You will need to give permission to "use location data while not using hte app".

      They will give some BS reason why you want that.

    2. Re:How? by DogDude · · Score: 1

      Wait... how the hell did Instagram get my location data?!

      From your fucking cellphone.

      --
      I don't respond to AC's.
    3. Re:How? by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      From your fucking cellphone.
      Hm, interesting. He might soon have some baby cell phones, I volunteer to raise one!

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
  6. Company forgot to say a word by CanadianMacFan · · Score: 3, Informative

    "helps you explore what's around you, get more relevant ads and helps improve Facebook profit."

  7. Re:"Helps to explore what's around you..." by nukenerd · · Score: 1

    I gather from TFA that it still does this even if the phone is in your pocket. Tha's if you have a smartphone and an Instagram account. I have neither. WTF is this Instagram anyway?

  8. Privacy? There ain't no stinkin' privacy! by Tutter · · Score: 1

    It is an ad-driven revenue world as there is much more profit in ads than there is in having users pay for a service. But, people are cheap and the vast majority willingly give up their location / history to save a few bucks and wouldn't pay a few bucks to keep their data private. To quote Carlin "Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that."

  9. you can't play if you don't join by AndyKron · · Score: 1

    She's going past the handbags. Quick, give her a text for a 10% coupon.