Bipartisan senators are demanding Meta immediately shut down Instagram’s dangerous new location-sharing feature that puts children directly in the crosshairs of predators and traffickers.
Bipartisan Lawmakers Sound Child Safety Alarm
Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut sent a stern letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on August 8, demanding the company “immediately abandon” its newly launched Instagram Map feature. The senators warned that the location-sharing capability “will only increase the dangers children face online” by enabling real-time or recent location sharing that predators and traffickers could exploit to target minors.
The bipartisan pushback represents growing Congressional frustration with Big Tech’s repeated failures to protect children online. The senators’ letter specifically cited Meta’s “abysmal” track record on children’s safety, referencing recent incidents involving AI chatbots inappropriately interacting with minors and weak safeguards against sexual exploitation. This pattern of safety failures has eroded lawmakers’ trust in the company’s ability to self-regulate.
Meta’s Disputed Safety Claims Under Fire
Meta insists Instagram Map is “off by default” and requires users to actively opt-in before sharing their location data. The company claims live location is only shared with followers you follow back or a custom list, with parental notifications triggered when supervised teens enable the feature. However, the senators’ letter includes troubling allegations that “some consumers have reported that their location was automatically shared without their consent,” directly contradicting Meta’s assurances about user control.
The feature operates within Instagram’s direct messaging system through an interactive map, displaying user locations for 24 hours after they open or resume the app. While Meta spokesperson Adam Mosseri described using the feature with a “carefully curated list” and emphasized options like “Close Friends,” cybersecurity experts warn that teens may not fully understand the exposure risks. The technical complexity of audience controls raises serious questions about whether minors can make informed decisions about location privacy.
Constitutional Concerns and Parental Rights
This controversy highlights fundamental concerns about government overreach versus parental rights and child protection. While conservatives typically oppose excessive regulation, the protection of children from online predators represents a core family value that transcends typical partisan divides. The bipartisan nature of this pushback demonstrates how child safety issues can unite lawmakers across the political spectrum when Big Tech companies prioritize profits over protecting America’s children.
Sad when earning money is more important to one than protecting children.
Lawmakers Urge Meta to Shut Down Instagram Map, Citing Harm to Children https://t.co/b4QylJ8Whi via @epochtimes
— Richard Rogers (@Rogersrg1a) August 11, 2025
Parents now face the burden of navigating complex privacy settings to protect their children, while Meta profits from data collection and social engagement features that put minors at risk. The company’s track record of placing shareholder interests above child safety undermines confidence in their latest promises. Conservative families who value traditional protections for children should immediately disable this feature and demand accountability from platforms that treat kids like “cash cows” rather than vulnerable individuals deserving protection.
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Instagram map feature draws lawmakers’ ire over child safety
How to disable Instagram’s new Map feature and why it’s controversial