Facebook’s “Nearby Friends” feature might be telling people where you are

Here's how to turn it off.

Fackbook Acquires WhatsApp For $16 Billion — Getty Images | Justin Sullivan

It was just this month that Snapchat was in the headlines due to privacy threats associated with the the social media platform’s introduction of “Snap Map,” which allows Snapchat users to see the location of their friends.

But did you know Facebook has a similar feature? Yes, really. And you might even be broadcasting your location—without even knowing it.

Facebook’s “Nearby Friends” feature works almost the same was “Snap Map” does, sans the map. What’s even more alarming is that Facebook’s mobile app can even show the neighborhood or suburb you’re in and the current mileage between you and your friends.

So How Do You Turn This Feature Off?

You’ll need to open Facebook through the mobile app on your phone. From there, tap the menu button icon that is located in the lower right corner of your screen.

It should bring you to a menu with all kinds of options, but if you continue to scroll down, you’ll see a pink icon with a white bullseye in the center titled “Nearby Friends,” and that is what you want to tap.

The feature might already be disabled, but it’s better to check just to make sure your privacy isn’t jeopardized, as privacy settings are continually changing on Facebook.

If the setting is already disabled, you’re good to go. But if the feature is turned on, you’ll see a screen showing you friends nearby, friends traveling and even friends who are within a few miles from you.

To turn this off, simply disable it by tapping the gear icon on the top right side of your screen. This will bring you to a screen where you can easily turn off the feature.

However, there is an option for you to keep the “Nearby Friends” feature on for select groups. If you have the feature turned on, you will then see a tab directly below it titled “Friends.” If you tap it, you’ll see lists of your different friends and networks and from there, you can choose who you want to see your location (maybe you want your family to know where you are, for instance). You’ll see a little blue checkmark next to the groups you’ve approved.

On a side note, there are plenty of other neat features Facebook has rolled out in the last year, including a more streamlined way to buy and sell items, which operates sort of like Craigslist. There’s also an option to find the closet location with Wi-Fi, check out sports games, movies and guides to different cities. Now you can optimize Facebook to do everything you want it to do (and nothing you don’t!).

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