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MLIVE: New Instagram map feature is dangerous for kids, Michigan congresswoman says

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell is speaking out against a new map feature on Instagram, saying it poses risks to children and abuse survivors by sharing their location.

“It’s dangerous for kids, kids can be tracked, domestic violence victims can be tracked,” the Ann Arbor Democrat said.

“I am deeply concerned that we not endanger children or victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence.”

The new feature announced Aug. 6 allows Instagram users to share their location with friends.

Users can opt in to sharing their last active location if they choose and turn it off anytime, according to Meta, Mark Zuckerberg’s company behind Facebook and Instagram.

Whether users choose to share their location, they can use the map to explore location-based content, such as checking out stories from friends who’ve gone to a concert or finding a new place to hang out from a local creator’s reel, according to Meta.

“People have always come to Instagram to share what they’re up to and where they are. Now, with reposts, the map, and the ‘Friends’ tab in Reels, it’s easier for you and your friends to stay in touch through the content you’re enjoying on Instagram,” Meta announced.

Instagram had a similar map feature several years ago that showed precise locations where users were posting from, but the feature was phased out.

Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have urged Meta in recent days to shut down the newest map feature, while calling the company’s child safety record abysmal.

Dingell argues the new feature has flaws and she’s aware of instances in which some locations have been shared without consent, contrary to Meta’s claims.

“We’re aware of it,” she said. “People have shared that with us. There’s just no guardrails.”

Dingell said what she really wants is for Congress to pass some federal privacy legislation once and for all.

“People have no idea how much information is tracked on them every single day, who is gathering it, how it’s being used, who it’s being sold to,” she said, citing an example of General Motors selling driver data to insurance companies.

“Until GM sold people’s driving data — that they had no idea was being tracked for the record — to an insurance company, and their insurance rates went up, nobody understood ... like this is what’s happening to your data,” she said.

Children have no idea all the different ways their social media data is being tracked and used, including their likes and dislikes, what they wear, what they eat and where they go, Dingell said, saying it’s being used by companies to try to influence them.

People need to demand their privacy be protected, she said, suggesting there’s been a lack of political will in Washington to do more about the situation.

“I worry about our kids, I worry about all of us,” she said, saying phone calls, emails and internet searches also are being tracked by various parties more than people realize.

“And now they want to have televisions that are listening to your conversations — they’re going to target advertising and target things for you,” she said.

“Some people think none of this matters. I do.”