Wondering how accurate is Snapchat location?
In this world and age, keeping people informed of your whereabouts has become essential. While some individuals disclose their locations merely in case of an emergency, others use it to keep their close friends updated on their wonderful activities. Moreover, just like posting a story on different platforms, sharing your location with friends and family has also become a trend.
Ever since Snapchat added the Snap Map feature in 2017, location sharing has been on a rise. It is an excellent feature that individuals use to precisely pinpoint their friends on Snap maps. However, some individuals report that their location is inaccurate and that it shows them at a place that is entirely different from where they actually are.
So, if you’re trying to figure out how precise a Snapchat location is, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will address your question in-depth, as well as explain how the Snapchat map works and how to find out who can see your location.
Now, let’s get started!
How Does Snapchat Map Works?
Snapchat Maps is a great feature that many people use to know the whereabouts of their friends and family. Apart from that, you may also share your current location that your friends can see on their Snap Map.
Like any maps application, Snapchat also uses your phone’s GPS and Wi-Fi to figure out your current location and displays it on the Snap Map. However, the app doesn’t show the real-time location as your map is updated every time you open the Snapchat app and does not refresh while the app is running in the background.
This means that if you haven’t opened your Snapchat app for some hours, your location won’t be updated and will show ‘.. hours ago’ to anybody viewing you on their Snapchat Map.
Moreover, the developers of Snapchat have also added a feature known as Status. This allows users to do more with Snapchat Maps than to only observe their friends’ locations.
The Status shows your Bitmoji on the Snapchat map in the state you’re in at the moment, hence changing your Bitmoji into an Actionmoji. So, if you’re traveling and using Snapchat, your Actionmoji will show your Bitmoji in a car. This allows your friends to know about what you’re up to, rather than just knowing your location.
How Accurate Is Snapchat Location?
Snapchat Maps uses the location of your device to determine your current location and refreshes it on the map. Your phone may be using GPS sensors, Wi-Fi, or cellular tower data to know about your exact location. So, according to the connectivity strength of these features, the accuracy of your location will vary.
However, you should not rely on Snapchat Maps all the time for many reasons. Firstly, a glitch or a bug in the app may cause the Snapchat Maps to show inaccurate locations.
Secondly, a poor network connection of your GPS or Wi-Fi can also cause hindrance in showing your exact location on Maps. This can occur when you’re going to a remote area with inadequate cell towers or having an internet connection problem.
Furthermore, Snapchat Maps only uses and updates your location when you use the app. This implies that if a user hasn’t been on Snapchat for several hours, their location may not update, resulting in an old location status being displayed.
So, to address the question of how accurate Snapchat location can be, the answer is quite accurate but not enough to use it as your sole source to locate your Snapchat friends.
Can Other Users View My Location on Snapchat?
If you have your Snap Map location set to ‘my friends’, you will only be visible to your Snapchat friends’ Snap Map. However, Snapchat gives you the option to add your stories to the Map. These locations are pretty accurate and allow you to view what’s happening around the world through others’ snaps.
The option of adding your snaps to Snap Map comes in handy when you’re visiting a place. This is because you may be able to view that place through other people’s stories before going there. Furthermore, on many occasions and events, Snap Map lets you look at what’s happening through people’s stories on Snap Map.
When you tap on ‘Send to’ after taking a snap, you get two options. Tapping on ‘My Story’ will make your story visible to only your friends. But if you select ‘Snap Map,’ your story will be added to your specific location on Snap Map, which is public. This means that anyone viewing the area where you are can see your snaps for the next 24 hours.
Who Can View My Snapchat Location?
If you don’t feel comfortable disclosing your location with everyone added to your Snapchat account, don’t worry. Snapchat has got you covered. With Snap Maps, you have multiple options when it comes to sharing your location. These are as follows:
My Friends
This option allows you to share your location with all your Snapchat friends. These contacts will also be able to view your Actionmoji.
My Friends, Except
If you don’t want certain people in your friend list to view your location, you may opt for this option. The friends you select will not be able to see you on their Snap Map.
Only These Friends
This option allows you to select some specific friends with whom you wish to share your location. It’s similar to the Close Friends feature on Instagram. Only the users you choose will be able to view you on their Snap Map.
Ghost Mode
If you wish to remain hidden from your friend’s Snapchat Maps, you may opt for this option. Ghost mode only allows you to view yourself in your Snap Map. However, your friends won’t be able to see your Bitmoji or Actionmoji if you have this mode turned on.
So, if you want to change your Snap Map location settings to Ghost mode, follow the steps below:
- Firstly, open the Snapchat app on your device.
- Then, tap on your Bitmoji located on the top-left corner.
- After that, select the gear icon present on the top-right corner of the screen.
- Now, find the Who can… Section and under it, tap on See My Location.
- Lastly, toggle on for Ghost Mode to apply it to your Snap Map.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
1. How to report an inaccurate location on Snapchat?
If Snap Map shows an incorrect location of either you or a landmark, you can report it to Snapchat. To do so, tap and hold on to the Snap Map and then select ‘Report a Map Issue.’ A few options will appear; simply select the one closely related to the issue you’re facing.
2. How to report an inappropriate snap on Snapchat?
If you come across an inappropriate snap from another user, you have the option to report it to Snapchat. Simply hold on and swipe up on the snap you wish to report. Then, tap on ‘Report Snap’ from the three options. After that, pick from the several options given as to why you’re reporting that snap.
3. Is snapchat location accurate?
It is quite accurate but not enough to use it as your sole source to locate your Snapchat friends.
4. How accurate is snap map?
Snap maps are quite accurate. It’s as accurate as the google map. The only difference is, it’s not tracking people in real time. So it mostly records the last location where you opened the app.
Summing Up: How Accurate Is Snapchat Location
To conclude, Snapchat provides a great way to share your locations with friends through Snap Map. Although the Snap Map is precise to some extent, your location may not always be correctly shown and you can’t be entirely reliant on it. The reason can range from a network issue to a problem in the GPS sensor.
This article has provided a detailed and thorough answer to how accurate Snapchat location is. If you have any further queries, let us know in the comments section below. We will try our best to answer those as well.
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