Snapchat maps can figure out what you're doing and it's either cool or creepy
Snap Maps don't just tell your friends where you are; they also disclose a few of your activities. And it's freaking people out big time.
Anyone who's found themselves lurking on Snap Maps since it launched last week might have spotted a few quirky details that occasionally pop up on people's Bitmojis. Some Bitmojis are appearing in yellow cars, planes, and even on big armchairs. And, some people's Bitmojis are disappearing from the maps completely without them switching on Ghost Mode.
So, what exactly is going on?
According to Snapchat, these Bitomojis are actually called "Actionmojis" and they appear when Snapchat pulls in things like your location, the time of day ,or your speed of travel. These Actionmojis are supposed to contextualise your friends' placement on the maps. The feature doesn't track any of those things while you're off the app, only when you're active in the app.
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Here are just a few of the quirky things that have been appearing on people's Snap Maps.
People sleeping
Snapchat knows when you've been sleeping. Seemingly Snapchat can tell you're asleep based on the duration of your inactivity and the time of day. When you're asleep, your Actionmoji will appear is a very sleepy state on an armchair.
But, that's not the only way people are appearing on the map while they're snoozing. Some people seem to be sleeping while standing up, which looks pretty uncomfortable.
People flying
Snapchat also looks at your altitude, which is why a lot of people are noticing planes appearing on their Snap Maps when they're flying.
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People listening to music
The map also picks up when you're headphones are plugged into the jack. When you're listening to music, your Actionmoji will don a tiny pair of headphones. Kind of cool, if we're honest.
People on the beach
People chilling at the beach will also notice that a towel appears over one shoulder.
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People driving
Because the map looks at the speed at which you're travelling, it can also tell when you're in a car. When you're snapping in the backseat, your Actionmoji will appear in a yellow car.
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Creepy or just plain cool? You decide.
Topics Snapchat
Rachel Thompson is the Features Editor at Mashable. Rachel's second non-fiction book The Love Fix: Reclaiming Intimacy in a Disconnected World is out now, published by Penguin Random House in Jan. 2025. The Love Fix explores why dating feels so hard right now, why we experience difficult emotions in the realm of love, and how we can change our dating culture for the better.
A leading sex and dating writer in the UK, Rachel has written for GQ, The Guardian, The Sunday Times Style, The Telegraph, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Stylist, ELLE, The i Paper, Refinery29, and many more.
Rachel's first book Rough: How Violence Has Found Its Way Into the Bedroom And What We Can Do About It, a non-fiction investigation into sexual violence was published by Penguin Random House in 2021.
