After WhatsApp opened the lid to share data with its parent Facebook, it has been continuously working to increase the features of its widely popular messaging platform. It has recently debuted video calling, GIF support, and easy forwarding options but is now working to add new interesting features to group conversations.
The latest feature, which has been discovered by Twitter user WABetaInfo, is called ‘Live Locations.’ This feature is currently unavailable to Beta users but is hidden within the Android application. It has to be enabled using a configuration file but we’d recommend you to install the same at your discretion.
2.17.3.28 iOS | 2.16.399+ Android: Live Location feature, that tracks the live location of other group participants (DISABLED BY DEFAULT). pic.twitter.com/pYEXT1nxyR
— WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) January 26, 2017
Talking about how the feature works, this would be an interesting one with privacy implications for WhatsApp users. The ‘Live Locations’ is currently a feature under development but aims to provide you with a new option to share your current location with friends within a group conversation. Once activated, you’ll find a new ‘show my friends’ option inside the group settings (accessible through the three dots on the top left). And mind you, this enables you to track them in real-time (uhh..creepy!?)
On tapping the said option, you will be given the option to choose an activation period for your location. The time limit includes an option to either share your location for one minute, two minutes, five minutes or indefinitely. This is also accessible through the three dots you will be able to see next to the ‘show my friends’ option. Now, the biggest question arises, how do you access your friend’s location?
Since you’re setting the time limit through the extended menu, tapping on ‘Show my friends’ will bring up a map showing the live location of all the friends who’ve activated the feature at that instant. WhatsApp is using Google Maps to power the feature and enables you to switch terrains or view traffic conditions as well.
This new feature could prove to be a boon while planning gatherings or sending your location update to family members. This will enable us to further direct our friends to take the correct or alternative path to the meeting location. But, we’d to wait for WhatsApp to detail what the feature is actually intended for. One can even see it as a closed extension of Facebook’s Nearby friends feature, which was recently swapped out. The feature is also giving the platform a chance to gather more data about our location and share it with their parent.
Though there is currently no update on the availability of the said feature but it’s expected to debut in the official/Beta app, once the bugs are ironed out. There is a high probability that this feature will make an appearance in the app alongside the long-awaited ‘Status’ feature, which has been in the works. It will bring an Instagram Stories-like capability to the messaging platform.
