Instagram’s new map feature: What police want parents to know

Instagram has added a new map feature that allows users to share their real-time location, and law enforcement says parents should understand the risks before letting kids use it.

We spoke with Tulsa Police Captain Richard Meulenberg and Tulsa parent Cole Mendenhall to answer some key questions.

Q: What exactly is the new Instagram map feature?

It allows users to share their current or most recent location with people on their friends list. The setting is off by default, but once enabled, it can update in real time.

Q: Why are police concerned?

“The issue isn’t with the innocence of sharing it,” said Captain Richard Meulenberg. “It’s with the predators out there who are going to exploit the information and maybe victimize somebody.”

Police warn that the danger isn’t the tool itself, it’s who has access to the location data.

Q: Can predators really get onto a friend's list?

Yes. Meulenberg says fake accounts or hacked accounts can sneak onto a friend's list without users realizing it.

“So now you’re opening yourself up to potential fake accounts, and now these people will have an idea of where your location is,” he explained.

Q: What should parents do?

Meulenberg advises starting safety talks early.

“If you haven’t exposed them to things about social media and educated them about that, and they’re finding this out through their peers, they’re not getting the right information.”

He also recommends that parents be connected to their kids on social media so they can monitor both posts and friend lists.

Q: How do parents feel about this feature?

Cole Mendenhall, a Tulsa father of a two-year-old, says it’s already on his mind.

“I just think that everybody needs to be aware of it and really take steps to protect their families,” he said.

Mendenhall says his family tries to be intentional with every decision for their daughter.

“There’s so much that they can get access to now in this world that we might not want them to have, that can influence them.”

Online safety tips

Our News On 6 crime expert Lori Fullbright has six things to know to keep safe online:

1. Kids should only accept friend requests from people they know in person.
2. Kids should not disclose their age, their school, or other personal information online.
3. Parents need to talk to kids about how many predators are impersonating teenagers online.
4. Kids should tell a trusted adult immediately if someone sends them an inappropriate picture or requests one.
5. Kids should never meet someone in person that they’ve met online.
6. Kids need to know that if they send an inappropriate picture and the person starts demanding more explicit pictures or money, the child should not comply but tell a trusted adult.

More safety advice from Lori can be found here.

Related: OSBI warns Oklahoma parents after 8,000 internet crime tips involving children this year