The release of iOS 18 in late 2022 has sparked concerns among users about their privacy. One such concern is that the new operating system may be displaying the number of times you’ve viewed someone’s location, even if you have not shared your location with them. In this article, we will explore this claim and examine whether or not iOS 18 is truly spying on users’ location sharing habits.
What is Location Sharing?
Location sharing is a feature that allows you to share your current location with other people. This can be useful in a variety of scenarios, such as when you need to meet someone in person or when you are sharing a ride with someone. However, it also raises concerns about privacy, as it means that other people can track your movements and potentially access sensitive information about your whereabouts.
Is iOS 18 Displaying Location Sharing History?
There have been reports that iOS 18 is displaying the number of times you’ve viewed someone’s location, even if you have not shared your location with them. For example, if you are in a group chat with friends and one of them shares their location, the app may display a message indicating how many times you have viewed that location.
This has led some users to suspect that iOS 18 is spying on their location sharing habits. However, it’s important to note that this behavior is not new and has been present in previous versions of the operating system as well. In fact, Apple has explicitly stated that location sharing history is not stored or displayed by the company.
What does Apple Say?
Apple has responded to concerns about iOS 18’s location sharing behavior by stating that the app does not store or display location sharing history. According to the company, the app only displays information about your location when you are actively sharing it with someone else. This means that if you view someone else’s location while they are sharing it, the app will simply display a message indicating how many times you have viewed that location.
In addition, Apple has stated that it takes user privacy very seriously and that it does not collect any unnecessary data about its users. The company has also implemented various features to give users more control over their location sharing settings, such as the ability to turn off location sharing entirely or to only share your location with certain people.
Case Study: Location Sharing in a Business Setting
Let’s take a look at an example of how location sharing might be used in a business setting. Suppose you are part of a team that is working on a project and you need to meet with your colleagues in person. You decide to use the location sharing feature in the messaging app to let them know where you are.
As your colleagues view your location, the app will display a message indicating how many times they have viewed it. This can be useful for keeping track of who has seen your location and when, as well as for ensuring that everyone is on the same page about where you are.
However, it’s important to note that this behavior is not necessarily spying on your colleagues. Rather, it is simply a natural part of using the location sharing feature in the messaging app. In addition, as we will see below, there are ways to disable this behavior if you prefer.
Is There Any Way to Disable Location Sharing History?
While Apple has stated that location sharing history is not stored or displayed by the company, it’s still possible for users to disable this behavior if they prefer. To do so, you can follow these steps:
- Open the messaging app on your iOS device.
- Tap on the person’s name or profile picture to open their conversation.
- Scroll down and tap on the “Location Sharing” toggle switch.
- Select “Never” to disable location sharing history for that conversation.
By disabling this feature, you can ensure that no one will be able to view how many times they have viewed your location in a conversation. However, it’s important to note that this will only apply to the specific conversation where you have enabled this setting. If someone else shares their location with you in a separate conversation, the app will still display location sharing history as usual.