New Snapchat feature worrying law-enforcement agencies

A new feature introduced on the popular photo and short-video sharing app Snapchat has some local law enforcement agencies concerned.

The feature, called Snap Maps, displays a Snapchat user’s location on a map populated by others who have sent a picture or video from a particular location. It uses GPSbased location services. But the map, once populated with a person’s location, could be a clear sign that they aren’t at home or give away other personal information, law enforcement officials said.

“It is important to be careful about who you share your location with,” Kissimmee Police Department Chief Jeff O’Dell said in an advisory. “It can allow people to learn your travel patterns such as where you live, go to school and how you spend your time. It can also let a potential burglar know when you are not home.”

The advisory also gives instructions for turning off location sharing. If a user pinches on the screen, a map will pop open, offering the option of going into “Ghost mode.”

Kissimmee is one of the dozens of police departments warning parents of the dangers of Snapchat’s latest feature. The University of Central Florida’s campus police department also issued a warning Tuesday.

Snapchat, which reportedly has more than 160 million users, is a social media application that lets users broadcast short videos or pictures to followers. According to studies, the largest age group using it is the 18 to 24 demographic.

The growing number of socialmedia apps has forced police agencies to continually develop safeguards and instructional advisories for the community, Kissimmee Police Department spokeswoman Stacie Miller said.