Snap Maps is a newly added feature to Snapchat that was introduced in the summer of 2017. The new feature uses mapping technology to let you see what your friends are up to and see who else is in your area. It looks like a good feature upgrade, but it will have obvious downsides. If you want to use Snap Map on Snapchat, it’s not as easy as it could be.
Snapchat says usage growth is linked to feature growth, so the more features the platform adds, the more users it gets. While this is all very good, the need for quality should always take precedence over quantity just to get users. Fortunately Snap Maps looks good.
Snap Maps on Snapchat
Snap Maps leverages map data for San Francisco startup MapBox and produces a quality map with small icons called Actionmoji where your friends are currently on Snapchat or were most recently on Snapchat. Other users who have enabled Snap Maps on Snapchat will also appear.
Actionmoji changes to reflect what people were doing at the time and is the coolest part of the app. Snapchat tries to interpret what you’re doing at the time and represent it as an icon. For example, if it sees you’re on the beach, it will display a sunbathing emoji. If it thinks you are at the airport or the mall, it will show a car pushing emoji.
The new feature has not received universal acclaim, which I’ll cover in a minute. First, let’s look at how to use Snap Maps.
Use Snap Maps on Snapchat
Despite being a shiny new feature, Snap Maps isn’t all that easy to find. To access it, you have to pinch to zoom while in the Snapchat camera app. Initially, you will be asked to configure your user preferences and then who you want to allow to see your location.
Once complete, you’ll be presented with a map of your area with Actionmoji icons from people who also have Snap Maps enabled. Tap an icon to see what that person is doing or sharing.
Snap Maps also uses heatmaps. When you see a traditional green to red area on the map, this indicates that many Snapchat users are using Snap Maps at the same time. This can refer to an event or something that many people gather for a reason.
You can use it to navigate the map by moving it with your fingers. Tap an icon to see what that user has shared. There’s also a search function at the top of the screen you can use so you know exactly what you’re looking for.
Snap Maps Ghost Mode
Ghost Mode is a very important aspect of the new Snap Maps feature. It essentially turns off location services for Snap Maps and makes you invisible. This is necessary for children and those who for many reasons do not want their location to be tracked.
When you first open Snap Maps, you are presented with privacy options. Here you can choose whether to enable Ghost Mode or not. If you didn’t choose it then but want to change it later, you can.
To enable Ghost Mode:
- Open the Snapchat app and open the camera.
- Zoom in by zooming in to launch Snap Maps.
- Select the gear icon in the top right to access the settings menu.
- Check the box next to Enable Ghost Mode.
Is Snap Maps a good idea?
So is this new feature a good idea or not? The jury seems to have decided and cannot decide. Despite several months of getting used to it, reception is still mixed. Personally, I think it’s a bad idea but the ability to enable Ghost Mode cuts that down quite a bit.
However, if you have kids, a jealous partner or ex, or nosy friends or neighbors, it’s not such a good idea. Parents are rightly worried about this. Not only does it give kids a desire to go farther and see what other Snapchatters are up to, it also tells people where that kid might be at the time. This has obvious downsides.
Then there are the friends who unexpectedly stop by because you look like you’re doing something great. Or a jealous partner who watches where you are every time you open Snapchat, or other nefarious characters who watch who’s where and use the information for their own benefit.
Fortunately, Snap Maps only updates when you use the app. Besides Ghost Mode, you have some control over what appears online.
Have you used Snap Maps? Did you like it? Do you hate? Do you have any stories to tell about it? You know what to do!