Sharing Locations-The Age of Surveillance
Editor’s Note: The Views expressed in this article are those of the author
Spot the difference: To be seen, to be known, to be watched.
To be seen: To be perceived with eyes.
To be known: To be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information.
To be watched: To observe attentively over a period of time.
Life360, Find My iPhone, Snapchat, Maps and Instagram maps; all surveillance software used to pinpoint one’s exact location. Is it the “bare minimum” or an invasion of privacy? Is it necessary for one to know where you are or what you’re doing at all times?
To Be Seen
In my opinion there comes more of a superficial aspect to being “seen,” a bit of ego and a bit of pride on both ends.
You post on Instagram hoping a certain “someone” will be in the story views before the 24 hours is up.
You’re still sharing your location with your ex. You guys agreed to go no-contact so they’ll never hear from you and you won’t hear from them.
But just in case, one day, if something changes, they’ll know where to find you.
You still follow that girl you had a tremendous falling out with resulting in the end of a friendship. At one point you did know her and sometimes you miss her face, her presence.
This passive existence in someone else’s life stings. You move in the background of the other person’s life, you won’t call, of course, but you still crave that acknowledgement or observation.
You’re simply seen.
To Be Known
On one end there are a lot of benefits to location sharing.
It allows you to check up on that friend you haven’t had a chance to talk to in a while. That’s a chance for connection to be rekindled.
You’re studying abroad across the world or took a new internship across the country? Your homegirl has your location and your mom has your location, at least they know you’re safe.
You had no idea your friend was traveling but now that you’ve seen their story post from Spain, you’re excited to ask them about their trip when they get back.
You and your partner like to share locations to ensure “trust?” Lovely!
These aren’t just people you met once in a bar bathroom or walked by on the way to class, you know them and you’re known by them.
To Be Watched
Sometimes being watched can be endearing like the TikToks comparing checking locations to playing The Sims.
Maybe you want to know if they’re home. Maybe you want to ask them to get lunch.
This can cross a line into a spiral of assumptions, opening room for misunderstandings based solely on what you’ve observed through your phone.
Your friend’s location hasn’t left their dorm in an hour and a half but they haven’t replied to your facetime call. Are they ignoring you?
In reality they were just taking a nap in between classes.
There comes an underlying unsettling feeling knowing someone else knows everything about you spatially.
Maybe you’re having an off day and want to be off the grid for a little while, of course you can always temporarily opt out of location sharing, if your idea of an off day includes being hit with texts from four different people asking why it’s not on.
Social media maps like the ones on Snapchat and Instagram make your location even more widely accessible. It moves beyond a chosen few into every person you follow, plenty you may not even know.
This is our age of chronic surveillance: where you’re prepared to press the button that will share your location “indefinitely” without much thought. Where anyone can feel the urge to “keep an eye” on someone.