Facebook Now Allows You to Share Your Location via Private Messages

Well, it looks like Facebook has not given up on its Messenger location tagging system just yet even though it brought it a fair amount of heat when someone managed to create the notorious “Marauders Map” using its resources. That particular Chrome extension is now unusable as it violated the privacy of Messenger users. However, Facebook is now allowing us to send our locations privately via Messenger conversations.

More specifically, you can send a map of your location or of another place as a single message. In order to use the new feature, you need to tap the “More” icon or the location pin at the bottom of the screen. This feature can definitely come in handy if you’re meeting someone at a restaurant or if you’re running late for a meeting. It’s important to remember that sending locations is optional, and just in case you’re still worried about your privacy, Facebook is here to reassure you:

“Sending a location is completely optional. Nothing is changing about how we receive your location information:

• As always, Messenger doesn’t get any location information from your device unless you enable location services for the app.
• Messenger does not get location information from your device in the background—only each time you select a location and tap Send when you use the Messenger app. We are not requesting any new permissions for your information.”

That Marauders Map extension for Chrome was pretty scary, but this new Messenger option seems harmless enough as long as it is used properly. It definitely beats giving directions over the phone, don’t you agree?

Thank you Facebook for providing us with this information.