Instagram users issue urgent warning to check one setting as they believe new feature could put you at risk

Social media users are currently slamming Instagram for a new feature that they claim could 'potentially put you at risk'.

Meta, the company that owns Instagram and Facebook, announced several juicy updates to the photo-sharing platform yesterday (August 6), which have already rolled out for users across the US before going global.

In a press release about the change, the tech company highlighted three main takeaways, including reposts and a 'friends' tab to see the content your friends have liked, created, reposted, and/or commented on.

Fans say the features appear to blend some of the best functions of other social media platforms, like an easy way to access your buddies' short-form videos, like on TikTok, and the 'repost' option shares similarities with Twitter.

However, there's one particular function it's fair to say users are not particularly keen about.

This is an example of what the maps feature looks like (Meta)

According to Meta, the Instagram Map allows users to share their last active location with their friends and favorite creators.

"From 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, there’s content to help you and your friends connect with the world around you," it added.

Yet while Meta insists that location sharing is automatically off 'unless you opt in', dozens have baulked at the option even existing and claim they can see their friends' precise location 'down to the street names and landmarks'.

Racing to Twitter, social media users are now encouraging their fellow online pals to check if their location is turned off on Instagram.

"TURN YALL LOCATION OFF ON INSTAGRAM RIGHT NOW AND I'M BEING SO SERIOUS !!!!" wrote one, while a second called it a 'dangerous feature'.

It can be found in the inbox section on Instagram (Meta)

A third explained how to turn off your location within the app: "Go into the three lines and into your 'story live and location' settings. From there, you should be able to toggle your location sharing and permissions."

Meanwhile, others have expressed concern over what some might try and use the new feature for, as someone else said: "Turning on location services on Instagram can expose your whereabouts and potentially put you at risk. While convenient for some features, sharing your location publicly can be exploited by stalkers, hackers, and even criminals to target you or your belongings.

"It's crucial to be mindful of the risks and adjust your privacy settings accordingly."

In its press release, Meta states that users can customize the location feature, including who they choose to share the map with out of their followers and that it can be turned off 'in specific places or with specific people.'

Some fear the feature could embolden stalkers (Getty Images)

They said: "If you use location sharing, your location is updated whenever you open the app or return to the app if it’s been running in the background. You can turn off location sharing at any time."

Parents also 'have control' of the 'location sharing experience' of their children or teens, as Meta says they will be notified if their youngster starts to share their location, provided they have supervision activated.

"You can decide whether your teen has access to location sharing on the map and see who your teen is sharing their location with," Meta added.

In a statement to UNILAD, a Meta spokesperson said: “Instagram Map is off by default, and your live location is never shared unless you choose to turn it on.

"If you do, only people you follow back—or a private, custom list you select—can see your location."