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There was a time, way back in the MiGente and early Twitter days…when I dropped my location in a post without thinking twice. I actually created a whole culture at Sofrito Media Groups where I would pop into cities and have impromptu meetups with people I was connected to online and had not ever met IRL when I was traveling to some of the creator conferences. It was certainly a vibe.

The world has since changed…sharing your location online has new risks we could have never have imagined back in those days.… there is so much more to consider so this is why I am bringing this post to you.

just rolled out a new Map feature that lets you share your real-time location with friends. Yes, in real time. And while this might seem like a sweet way to let your audience know you’re at a pop-up, on set, or grabbing brunch at a spot you want to hype… it also opens the door to serious safety concerns.

After my breakdown, I ham giving access to a full digital safey audit that you can do to eliminate any safety blindspots. You can get access by signing up for Siembra Connect.

Let’s break it down from a creator first lens.

What’s the deal with Instagram’s Map?

📍 Real-time location sharing: You can now share where you are right now with people you follow and who follow you back.

🎯 Custom visibility: You decide if your location is visible to everyone you follow back, your Close Friends list, or handpicked people.

📲 DM-based access: The feature is tucked inside the Direct Messages section.

🛑 Opt-in only: It's OFF by default. You have to go in and turn it ON. (although two of my accounts were on by default on day 1)

🛡️ You control the settings: You can update or turn it off at any time.

Real Talk: Why Creators Should Be Cautious

f you’re a woman, queer, Black, Brown, have strong opinions or part of any historically targeted group, your online safety hits different.

This feature feels a lot like Snap Map 2.0 (yep, the one that sparked concerns about predators and digital stalking). Even though Instagram added parental controls for teen users and says it only keeps your shared location data for 3 days, many creators, especially those with growing platforms…are already sounding the alarm.

👀 What’s the risk?

• You might accidentally share sensitive locations (think doctor visits, therapy appointments, or family homes).

• You could expose yourself to stalkers or strangers who don’t have good intentions.

• If your content shows a location AND you share real-time info? That’s too much data in the wrong hands.

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Taking this a step further

If You’re Undocumented or Black/Brown/Queer and Outspoken… Read This, Share This.

You and those you love need extra protection, period.

• Never tag where you are in real time

• Delete old content with address or landmark reveals

• Don’t go live from your house or neighborhood

• Avoid showing patterns—same café, same gym, same park

• Consider a second, locked-down profile for personal use

  Follow and support legal orgs like @LegalMiga, @UnLocalInc, and @RAICESTEXAS on Instagam.

How to Opt Out (Because Privacy > Popularity)

If you want to keep creating without risking your safety:

1. Go to Instagram DMs

2. Tap the map icon (if you see it).

3. Disable location sharing or make sure it’s not turned on.

4. Check your settings regularly—updates can quietly reset things.

5. If you have kids or younger siblings using IG? Enable parental controls and talk to them about it.

Try This: Safer Ways to Stay Connected Without the Map

✅ Share location-tagged content after you leave the spot.
✅ Use stories to tease your presence but blur or obscure exact locations.
✅ Consider a social media delay—post in real-time only when you're with people you trust.

Community Reflection

Have you checked your location settings lately?
Do you feel safe sharing where you are?
How do you draw the line between authenticity and personal safety?

Slide into our DMs or reply to this newsletter—we want to hear how you are navigating this.

If you take one thing from this, let it be this: Visibility should never cost you your safety.

If you are interested in conducting a full digital safety audit, there is one available completely for free for members of the Siembra Connect newsletter

GET ACCESS BY SIGNING UP BELOW!

Let’s keep growing.
— George from Siembra Connect 🌱

Follow me on Instagram and Threads @SiembraConnect