Instagram’s Mapping Feature: A Privacy Wake-Up Call
Purism
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Instagram’s latest update introduces a mapping feature that quietly turns your location into a public breadcrumb trail. While it may seem like a harmless way to tag your favorite coffee shop or scenic overlook, the reality is more insidious: this feature keeps your location sharing always-on by default. That means every time you post, you’re potentially broadcasting your whereabouts—not just to friends, but to advertisers, data brokers, and anyone else watching. It’s a textbook example of how convenience is weaponized against privacy.
What’s particularly troubling is how this feature exposes personally identifiable information (PII) without explicit consent. Users may not realize that tagging a location isn’t just a fun add-on—it’s a data point. When aggregated, these data points build a detailed behavioral profile: where you go, when you’re there, how often you visit, and who you’re with. This isn’t just about social sharing anymore. It’s surveillance, dressed up in pastel filters and dopamine hits.
At Purism, we believe privacy should be the default—not a setting buried three menus deep. That’s why we’re sounding the alarm. Instagram’s mapping feature is yet another example of Big Tech’s relentless push to normalize data extraction. The more you share, the more they know. And the more they know, the more they abuse. Our mission is to offer an alternative: PureOS, a FSF endorsed GNU/Linux operating system that is secure and that doesn’t track you, doesn’t sell your personal information, and doesn’t treat your life as a commodity. This is free as in freedom software; that also happens to be free in price.
For users who want to opt out of Instagram’s location sharing, The Washington Post recently published a helpful guide on how to disable the map feature. But let’s be clear: opting out is a band-aid, not a cure. The real solution is to stop relying on platforms that treat privacy as an afterthought. When you use PureOS (the default for all Purism products), you’re not just avoiding invasive features—you’re choosing a system built from the ground up to respect your digital rights.
This isn’t just about one app. It’s about a broader cultural abuse toward surveillance capitalism. Every time a tech company rolls out a new “feature,” we need to ask: who benefits? If the answer isn’t the user, then it’s time to rethink our relationship with that platform.
Privacy isn’t a niche concern anymore. It’s a defining issue of our digital age. And as leaders in privacy-first technology, we have a responsibility to call out these encroachments and offer real alternatives. Instagram’s map may be the latest offense, but it won’t be the last. Let’s stay vigilant, stay informed, and most importantly—stay free.
Purism Products and Availability Chart
| Model | Status | Lead Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | Liberty Phone (Made in USA Electronics) | In Stock ($1,999+) 4GB/128GB | 10 business days | |
| Librem 5 | In Stock ($799+) 3GB/32GB | 10 business days | |
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 | Librem 14 | Out of stock | New Version in Development | |
 | Librem Mini | Out of stock | New Version in Development | |
 | Librem Server | In Stock ($2,999+) | 45 business days | |
 | Librem PQC Encryptor | Available Now, contact sales@puri.sm | 90 business days | |
 | Librem PQC Comms Server | Available Now, contact sales@puri.sm | 90 business days |
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