How to use WhatsApp location sharing feature?
Posted on: 19/Oct/2017 12:41:43 PM
It was launched as a mere instant messaging mobile app. Since then, WhatsApp has grown leaps and bounds, serving as message service to over 1.3 billion active monthly users all of whom depend on the platform to share and chat with their friends and family.
Among its updates and releases is the feature to share live location for stipulated time period. The official WhatsApp blog reads that the latest update will be available for all WhatsApp users across the globe on both Android and iOS in the coming weeks.
In spite of the location sharing feature available on other messaging platforms like Google Maps, Telegram, etc., introducing the same on WhatsApp is believed to widen is audience to 1 billion users.
How should you use WhatsApp location sharing feature?
There is extensive use of this location sharing feature. The WhatsApp official blog states that it can be used to plan a meet up with friends or loved ones, and still assuring your safety to your loved ones. The total time until when the live location sharing will last can be altered.
For example, if you need to meet your friend at a coffee shop, you can share the location with your friend only for 15 minutes or an hour or so depending on your need, so that you need not keep updating them your whereabouts every now and then during your travel. A longer duration sharing is also applicable. The maximum sharing period is 8 hours. On enquiring about plans to extend the duration, WhatsApp has refuted details.
To enable this feature on WhatsApp, tap the paperclip icon found against the chat box. The location sharing can be done in the form of chat. Hence, you can share it in individual chat or WhatsApp group as well.
You can modify your Account Privacy Settings to keep track of the total headcount of people who can access the live location. In case of WhatsApp group, live locations of all the participants who have shared their respective location will be made available on a single map.
On sharing the location, the receiver who gets the location will receive a chat with a thumbnail having the initial location. This will be followed by the end time till the total live location can be tracked. At any point during their travel, the sender is allowed to cease sharing their live location – either within the chat or by changing their Account Privacy Setting.
All the locations shared are end-to-end encrypted and hence 100 percent private. This feature will open up an all new daily chat scenario to all WhatsApp users. It will also pave way for increased safety of all WhatsApp users. Furthermore, those who are lying to their friends and family about their leaving time may henceforth steer away from this feature.
