One such question that rattles around everyone’s head is whether or not Snapchat tells you if someone checked your location. How do you know? Well, the answer is far more complicated than it needs to be. To tell you the truth, Snap Map doesn’t give you that kind of information, but there are other features of Snap Map that does.
Can You See Who Checks Your Location On Snapchat?
There is no direct way to see who checks your location on Snapchat. Snapchat doesn’t notify its users when someone has viewed their location so it’s not possible to tell who’s been checking your location. If you go to Settings in Snap maps and only a few friends are allowed to see your location, then it’s possible they’ve all been checking you out.
Back in 2018, Snapchat did let it’s users know when someone has checked their location. If you went to Snap Maps > Settings > A list of people who viewed your location will come up, just like you’re able to see people who viewed your story. Unfortunately, when you click Settings now, you’re only able to change your privacy settings, and not see whos looked at your location.
Like many features that Snapchat has, they’re reluctant, to be frank with their users and tell something like it is. You see, you don’t get to necessarily see who checked your location on Snapchat; it’s indirect, like a handful of its features are. Instead of knowing who was looking for you specifically, you only get a list of who has seen your location.
How is that any different? It’s the way Snap Map functions. Let’s say you have a few friends making use of it. Let’s also say your friends were clustered together close enough that when you scanned your location for someone’s Bitmoji, you reach a few of your friends. And when a friend of yours looks on their Snap Map and sees you scanned nearby, well, who’s to say you were actually looking for them?
You might have been looking for someone else, someone they don’t have as a friend on Snapchat. Or they could’ve accidentally opened their Snap Map (it is rather easy to accidentally swipe the correct gesture to activate it). One could assume you were looking for them, but assumptions can lead to disastrous encounters and confrontations. You know what they say about assuming.
How to Tell if Someone Checked Your Location on Snapchat
You may be curious who’s been checking your Snapchat location. You probably turned your snap map on for a reason, so it makes total sense to want to know who’s been checking your location. Even though Snapchat will not necessarily notify you when someone checks your location, there are ways to figure it out yourself.
1. They Bring Up Your Location in Conversation
If they bring up your current location in conversation, this means they probably did check your location through Snapchat. Your location will update on the Snapchat map (if you have the setting on) whenever you’re using the app. It’ll also show if you’re driving, and updates as you go, so they may mention they saw you were driving and ask where you’re going.
2. They View Your Location and Your Location is Tagged
If you know that they viewed your profile, and you have your location showing to this person, then it’s safe to assume they saw your location on the Snapchat map. It’s also worth knowing that you will be notified whenever someone screenshots your profile. So, if you get the notification that someone did this and you’re sharing your location with this person, chances are they saw your location.
Can You See Who Viewed Snap Map Story
No, you can’t see the usernames of those who viewed your Snap Map story, you can only see how many people viewed your story. When you post to the snap map, those who view your area in the Snapchat map will be able to see what you and others around you have posted to the map when they press on your location.
This is a fun feature that allows you to see what people are doing and posting in any area you’d like. You can also view these stories all you want without them knowing you did, as your username will not show.
There are currently no ways to show usernames of snap map story viewers who aren’t currently on your friends list. You can, however, see the username of the person who created the story, just as they would see yours.
Does Snapchat Notify When You Look at Someone’s Location
Snapchat does not notify you if someone looks at your location on Snap Maps. While your Snap maps location is private information, anyone you’ve allowed to see your location can view it without Snapchat notifying you.
Although Snapchat is known for notifying users when they’ve screenshotted stories, the social media platform doesn’t notify users when they look at people’s locations. This isn’t a feature that Snapchat is planning to roll or soon or has ever considered rolling out.
Traveling from One Location to Another
However, the above doesn’t even address the feature of your travels. If you make use of Snap Map, you can provide a unique story, of sorts. By making use of the Snap Map, you can travel from one location to another–making sure that you open SnapChat to update your location on Snap Map and keeping friends up to date–and Snapchat will make it into a story, taking note of how you traveled (it uses the speed in which you traveled to determine if transportation, like a plane or care, was used).
Now, here’s where things get a bit muddy. It’s why the question itself is conflicting. When you open Snap Map and see everyone’s location, no one is notified that you scanned the map for Bitmojis.
However, because your travels are treated like a story, you can see who has viewed your traveling story. One could equate your traveling story to a Snapchat story. But that’s as far as it goes.
So, to clarify: You can’t see who was scanning for you specifically on the Snap Map, but you can see who was viewing your traveling Snapchat story.
The Problem with Snapchat
At this point, some of you may be wondering if you can ignore Snap Map altogether. The idea of someone seeing your location is, quite frankly, disturbing and a bit creepy. No one needs to know you took a hike to the store.
That’s asking for some weirdo who you forgot was a “friend” on Snapchat, or disguised as someone else, show up at the same time. Coincidence? Maybe, but it’s best to err on the side of caution. So, yes, you can ignore Snap Map.
As it was mentioned, the first problem arises when those you don’t want to see your location getting to see your location. Privacy settings can change that real quick or, you know, removing them from your friends list, however, you will still need to alter your Snapchat privacy settings.
In fact, you should always consider a more private take on Snapchat, even if you are a Snapchat friend fiend. At the very least, choosing only friends being able to see your profile, Snap Map, Snapchat stories and so on and so forth.
The next problem arises when you do have a couple good buddies, decide to go out with one of them, or a few of them, but not inviting the entire crew.
Sure, one might be understanding and knowing full well that they wouldn’t have been able to make it in the first place, work and what not, but if you take three out of the four of your best buds knowing the fourth could make it, you’re creating a rift.
Such decisions can cause animosity. A friend could feel left out. They may wonder and even confront you about a missing invitation, “I saw you guys went out last night. How come no one told me?” And let’s not forget the kind of power this could give an ex or a stalker, being able to know your location. If you friend a lot of Snapchat users, who knows what kind of person you’re letting into your social life.
If you plan on being sneaky with your plans or you prefer to run errands and plans without someone dogging your trail, then you should take advantage of Snap Map’s “Ghost Mode.” After all, you aren’t forced to reveal your location, nor do you need to associate yourself with Snapchat’s Snap Map feature.
Taking Advantage of Ghost Mode
What’s one of the supposed traits of a ghost? You can’t seem them, right? Well, that’s what Ghost Mode aims to accomplish; hiding your location on Snapchat’s Snap Map feature from everyone.
You see, not everyone wants to engage in Snapchat’s Snap Map feature. It just isn’t for everyone, because not everyone is concerned with letting everyone know their location every minute of every day.
If that’s what you use Snap Map for, then more power to you. For the Snapchat users that don’t want to use Snap Map, or want to turn it off temporarily, here’s what you can do to push aside the feature:
1. Locate and launch the Snapchat app.
2. On the camera screen, take your finger and swipe downwards. Making that gesture on the camera screen will reveal your Snap Map.
3. On the Snap Map, you’ll notice a gear icon in the top right corner of the screen. Go ahead and select it. It will open the Snap Map settings.
4. In your Snap Map settings, place a checkmark on “Ghost Mode.” It will hide your location from everyone, regardless of what your privacy settings state below.
If you want to reveal your location again, uncheck the box to turn Ghost Mode off.
As you can see, Snap Map doesn’t tell you who checked out your location. You can assume, but you can never be too sure until you ask someone. But you can see if someone’s checking out your traveling event.