

But WhatsApp product manager Zafir Khan says they paid particular attention to the feature's impact on battery life and made several optimizations so that it wouldn't be a huge drain, even if users were sharing location for long periods of time. GPS use can often put a big strain on battery life, which could be particularly problematic in markets where people are using lower-end or older devices. Privacy aside, the idea of always-on location sharing may be unappealing for other reasons as well. That may sound creepy, but WhatsApp says it's a "simple and secure way to let people know where you are." It's end-to-end encrypted and users can end the location sharing before the designated time period is over if they want. The feature, which you can opt-in to from any chat, allows others to view your exact location for fifteen minutes, an hour, or eight hours at a time. Now, when users opt-in to live location, the friends they're chatting with can see their exact location updated on a map as they move.


Previously, the app had a location-sharing feature, but it only allowed users to share a static spot on a map. Facebook is opening up its most annoying feature to thirsty brands
