Instagram is cool. It has grown like a weed on some sort of magical fertilizer. It boasts a user base of over 40 million. That is no small number, especially for an app started by two guys less than 2 years ago. Instagram has been so successful it was purchased by Facebook for 1 billion dollars. The full acquisition is not complete, so anything still happening with the app is strictly Instagram influenced. A few days ago Instagram launched a significant update to the app. The biggest change is the inclusion of a new feature photomap. The feature shows you on a map where all of your photos were taken. This is a cool feature, one that has existed in iPhoto on the Mac for a few years now. The difference here is that it isn't just about seeing where YOUR photos were taken, you can see where EVERYONE'S photos were taken. Now, let's talk for a brief moment about privacy paranoia. I wouldn't consider myself very paranoid online, I share a lot of information about myself through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and my blog. I like to assume positive intent from those around me(a philosophy encouraged at Apple). Most people are not creeps and most people aren't malicious. Tragically, that is most and not all. So does that mean that we go dark, putting our accounts on lockdown with full privacy settings, maybe even deleting them all together? No, I do not think so. I think caution online is essential but extremism isn't necessary.
So what should you do about this new photomap?
The easiest option is to deselect all of your photos from photomap. When a user goes to view your photomap, they will not see any photos. This is a very simple solution, still allows you to share your photos with your friends just like before, and not worry about your photo geotag being visible to everyone.
Another option, the extreme end of the spectrum, is to show the location of all of your photos. You trust those who follow you and anyone who may happen to stumble upon your Instagram account. You feel it isn't a concern that they know where your vacation home is or where you work. You can probably choose this option and never have a problem, but I do not think it is the best option.
The third option I would suggest is deselecting photos from your photomap that show things like 1)Location of your home 2)Location of your child's school 3)Location of vacation homes 4)Potentially work. Is it cool to have photos from your Hawaii trip on the photomap? Yeah. Is it dangerous? Probably not. Don't fool yourself, you aren't Jason Bourne. People don't care that much about you and your movements in this world. But if you are a 16 year old girl, a 22 year girl, or a 30 year old, do you want anyone who cares to look knowing you live on blank street at roughly blank house number? No. So go ahead, share the pics of you at those cool waterfalls but there is no need to have the photos you took at home on the map. Keep in mind, once you've removed a photo from the photomap, it is never going back. It isn't deleting the photo from Instagram, just from the map.
Technology is amazing. I love it. I think Instagram is one of the best social services out there right now. Photos are amazing and it connects us in truly amazing ways. Having recently moved away from family, it is great to have technology to keep us close. So snap away and enjoy the sharing of your life with those you care about. There is no need to become paranoid. Just stay smart.
This is a pretty decent article from Wired on the upgrade.
