Several child protection groups are warning that Snapchat香蕉视频直播檚 new location-sharing feature could allow predators to more easily track young people.

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection and the digital literacy group MediaSmarts are among the organizations raising concerns about 香蕉视频直播淪nap Maps香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播� an opt-in feature that shares a user香蕉视频直播檚 location on a map.

Experts say child predators who befriend young users could use the feature to figure out where they live, go to school, the route they walk every day, and eventually build up a picture of their routine.

The feature was included in a recent update to the social media app, which is especially popular with teens. It lets users send photos, videos, and messages that disappear after a set period of time.

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Users can select who can see where they are 香蕉视频直播� whether that be all friends, a select group, or no one, also known as 香蕉视频直播淕host Mode.香蕉视频直播�

Earlier this week, the Winnipeg-based Canadian Centre for Child Protection issued an alert through its Cybertip.ca program about Snap Maps, saying users may not realize it updates their location each time they open the app, even when they香蕉视频直播檙e not sharing stories.

The group also urges parents to talk to their kids about keeping their location private and ensuring their 香蕉视频直播渇riends香蕉视频直播� on Snapchat 香蕉视频直播� and all social media香蕉视频直播� are people they have met in person.

Thierry Plante of the Ottawa-based MediaSmarts points to the 香蕉视频直播渢roubling consequences香蕉视频直播� of allowing others to know your location.

香蕉视频直播淚t becomes a very useful tracking tool for somebody who has other intentions,香蕉视频直播� says Plante.

香蕉视频直播淧arents do need to be very present in the digital lives of their children and have the conversation about how to use that feature, whether or not that feature is something they should be using or not, and then together 香蕉视频直播� if you have decided to use it, how to set the feature in a way to minimize that risk.香蕉视频直播�

Childnet International also released a statement about the feature last week.

香蕉视频直播淕iven how specific this new feature is on Snapchat 香蕉视频直播� giving your location to a precise pinpoint on a map 香蕉视频直播� we would encourage users not to share their location, especially with people they don香蕉视频直播檛 know in person,香蕉视频直播� the group said in a statement.

A Snapchat spokesperson said in a statement that 香蕉视频直播渢he safety of our community is very important to us香蕉视频直播� and stressed that using Snap Map 香蕉视频直播渋s completely optional.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淪napchatters can choose exactly who they want to share their location with, if at all, and can change that setting at any time. It香蕉视频直播檚 also not possible to share your location with someone who isn香蕉视频直播檛 already your friend on Snapchat, and the majority of interactions on Snapchat take place between close friends,香蕉视频直播� reads the statement.

Snapchat has an online parents guide offering tips on keeping teens safe while using the app, as well as an online 香蕉视频直播渟afety center香蕉视频直播� where anyone can report a safety concern.

Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press

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