Snapchat's New Safety Feature: Let Friends Know You're Home Safe

Snapchat Introduces “Home Safe” Feature for User Security

Snapchat has recently unveiled a new functionality designed to enhance user safety, allowing individuals to inform their contacts when they have safely returned home. This feature, named “Home Safe,” was announced by the social media platform on Thursday.

How the “Home Safe” Feature Works

Utilizing the feature requires initial setup. Users must first designate their home location within the Snap Map by selecting their Bitmoji and then choosing “My Home.”

When departing, users can activate the notification for a friend by opening the relevant conversation, tapping the Map icon, and subsequently selecting the “Home Safe” button.

Upon arrival at the designated home location, the friend will automatically receive a notification within the chat.

Privacy Considerations

Snapchat emphasizes that these alerts are exclusively sent to friends with whom location sharing is already enabled. Furthermore, location sharing on Snap Map is disabled by default.

Therefore, a user’s location, and the ability to trigger a Home Safe alert, are contingent upon their explicit choice to share this information.

Snapchat’s Rationale Behind the Feature

According to a blog post published by Snapchat, “Home Safe” aims to provide reassurance to loved ones. It’s particularly useful when returning from events like first dates, concerts, or trips.

The feature offers a close friend or family member peace of mind, confirming the user’s safe arrival.

Snap Map Growth and Evolution

The introduction of “Home Safe” follows a recent announcement regarding Snap Map’s user base. Snapchat reported that Snap Map now boasts over 400 million monthly active users.

Launched in 2017, Snap Map initially served as a platform for users to view their friends’ locations and explore publicly shared snaps globally.

Over the years, the feature has undergone significant development. It now facilitates the discovery of local attractions and activities.

Snap Map continues to evolve, offering users increasingly diverse functionalities.