Why do certain apps need your location and what does this mean?
Do you know which apps are tracking your location? It seems like more and more of them need or want to know where you are. It’s a balance between wanting to maintain your privacy and wanting to enjoy the added convenience it might offer. In this blog post, Walmart Family Mobile helps you understand how location tracking works so that you can make the best decisions for you and your family.
What is location tracking?
When you download an app and open it for the first time, you might get a pop-up asking for permission to track your location. Most apps are designed to keep this information safe to help protect you, and they only use it for the purposes of the app. However, you can always read through the app’s privacy statement and terms and conditions to double-check that location tracking is safe.
Most of the time, location tracking is just a convenience. Take a weather app, for instance. If the app already knows your location, you don’t have to bother typing in your zip code every time. When you’re deciding whether to give a specific app permission or not, just use your best judgment and do whatever you feel comfortable with.
The good thing is, if you change your mind later and decide you want to turn location sharing off, you can. All you have to do is go into Settings.
Location-tracking apps
There are a lot of different apps that might want to know your location. For some apps, it’s even required. For example, Google Maps, which utilizes Google location tracking, can’t take you where you want to go if they don’t know your coordinates. Family safety trackers, some fitness apps, certain augmented reality (AR) games, and features, like Find My iPhone, also need your location enabled.
For other apps, however, location might just be optional. Instagram is a great example of this. If Instagram knows your location, it can tag your photos for you. But this is just an optional feature. You can still post photos and enjoy the app without having your location turned on. In cases like that, location tracking is totally up to you.
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At Walmart Family Mobile, we care about our customers. You can rely on us to have your back. That’s why we offer nationwide 4G LTE† coverage on the T-Mobile network to power your apps each month. Get the best value in wireless today when you shop Walmart Family Mobile phones and service plans.
†To get 4G LTE speed, you must have a 4G LTE capable device and 4G LTE SIM Card. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Actual availability, coverage and speed may vary. During periods of congestion, Walmart Family Mobile customers may notice reduced speeds versus carrier branded customers. Please refer always to the latest Terms and Conditions of Service at MyFamilyMobile.com/termsandconditions.
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