The Current Gen Z wants you to know where they are
Nov 13, 2025
Hannah Alper, a journalist and commentator known for her insights on Gen Z culture, dives into the fascinating landscape of location sharing. She reflects on her own experiences, describing how platforms like Snap Maps and Find My have normalized constant visibility, yet also raise privacy concerns. Alper discusses the social pressures and safety motives behind sharing one's location while raising alarm over the feeling of surveillance. She offers advice on reclaiming privacy in a world where being 'unfindable' feels increasingly alien.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Early Snap Maps Habits
- Hannah first turned on location sharing in 2017 when Snap Maps launched and saw hundreds of avatars across cities she had lived in.
- She says 14 people could see her constant location, including Starbucks stops and studio visits, which made her feel persistently visible.
Privacy Boundaries Rewritten
- Hannah argues location sharing has rewritten social boundaries and eroded traditional notions of privacy.
- She contrasts Gen Z's constant findability with older generations who could be unfindable for hours.
Maps Fuel FOMO And Forgetfulness
- Hannah describes Snap Maps as a single screen showing where all your friends are at any moment, which fuels FOMO.
- She says it's easy to forget Snap Maps is on and that turning it off has become harder socially.
