Instagram has stated that when a post is made, the exact location of the user is not shared with others, contrary to popular belief. The company made the statement after claims surfaced that the “precise location” feature endangers users.
After the release of the “precise location” feature on iOS 14 in 2020 and Android 12 in 2021, users now have a more accurate location description that allows them to locate an exact location using GPS for specific purposes such as travelling or collecting background and personal user data.
According to reports, even if you post a general location such as Manchester, people will be able to access your exact location in Manchester, whether it is Radcliffe Tower, Dunham Castle or even Old Trafford. These claims prompted people to disable Instagram’s precise location.
To refute this, Instagram released an official statement stating that they, like other social media companies, do not share their location with others. Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri added his own voice and stated that users’ locations are not shared with third parties.
The sources for this piece include an article in BBC.