The New Social Contract: Best Tips for Protecting Your Privacy with Location Tracking

Welcome to the age of location tracking—where your phone knows more about your daily movements than your best friend does! In the digital era, convenience and security often come at the price of privacy. There is no doubt that location tracking has its advantages, be it the ability to track phone number free of charge for your safety, your favorite coffee shop app suggesting your daily latte the moment you’re within walking distance or even emergency services pinpointing your location with surgical precision. But there’s also a dark side lurking in the background—your privacy.

So are there ways to find a balance between taking advantage of geolocation services and protecting against unwanted tracking? Now it does not go about laws and governments, but about our ability to save privacy in a world where our every move is tracked. So here you will find our best tips to help you take control of your privacy in the age of location tracking, without having to live off the grid.

1. Know What You’re Signing Up For

Remember every app you download and every service you use that tracks your location is essentially a contract you’re signing. But unlike a paper contract, these agreements are often buried in fine print or hidden in obscure privacy policies. Before you hit “accept” on that next app download, it’s essential to do a little digging.

Let’s say you download a weather app that asks for your location. While it makes sense for the app to know where you are to provide accurate forecasts, what else is it doing with that information? Is it selling your location data to advertisers or maybe sharing it with third-party companies?

We also recommend you to pay attention to the following points:

1. Read the privacy policy. Although it may seem exhausting, reading the privacy policy can give you a good idea of what data is collected and how it is used.

2. Check all granted permissions. Some apps might ask for permissions that don’t make sense. For example, does your flashlight app really need to know your location? If not, don’t grant that permission.

3. Use transparency reports. Some companies, e.g., Apple and Google, offer transparency reports to show how your data is used. Familiarize yourself with these to make informed decisions.

2. Limit Location Sharing

Let’s start simple. You don’t need your phone tracking your every move 24/7. Apps like Google Maps, Uber, and even Instagram ask for location data, but you control when and where you share it. Set your apps to "While Using" rather than "Always On" to limit data collection to moments when it's genuinely helpful. 

For example, you have a fitness app that tracks your runs, a map app for directions, and a social media app that tags your location in posts. Do all of these really need to track your location 24/7?

Best practices to implement here are to enable location services only when necessary (to share your location only when the app is in use without using your whereabouts data in the background) and to use “precise location” mode rarely if needed (wisely opt for broader location (like your city) rather than “precise location” required by the app if possible). 

3. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for Extra Security

Think of a VPN as your digital cloak of invisibility. Due to using VPN you will be able to mask your IP address, encrypt your data, and make it harder for anyone to track your online activity or pinpoint your exact location. If you often use public Wi-Fi or want to keep your location truly private, a VPN is a must-have tool in your privacy toolkit.

For instance, when you connect to a public Wi-Fi network (say, at your favorite coffee shop) anyone with the right know-how could potentially track your online activity. A VPN scrambles your data, making it nearly impossible for snoopers to see what you’re doing or where you are.

Top VPN tips to consider:

• Choose only a trusted provider and be advised that not all VPNs are created equal. Opt for one that doesn’t keep logs of your activity and has strong encryption standards.

• Use VPN with a kill switch available. Many VPNs come with a “kill switch” feature that automatically cuts off your internet connection if the VPN connection drops. This ensures that your data is never exposed.

• Make it a habit to switch on your VPN whenever you connect to a public Wi-Fi network. This simple step can protect you from prying eyes.

4. Disable Bluetooth When You’re Out and About

You might think of Bluetooth as just a way to connect your phone to your headphones, but it can also be used to track your location. Retailers and advertisers frequently use Bluetooth beacons to pinpoint your location in stores and public places, gathering data on your shopping habits or even which aisles you walk down.

For example, imagine walking into a store and getting a notification on your phone about a sale on shoes just as you’re passing the shoe section. That’s Bluetooth beacons at work. 

So how to deal with them? You may start with the simplest thing, i.e., turn off bluetooth when not in use to prevent unwanted tracking. The second step is to disable bluetooth scanning, as some phones automatically scan for Bluetooth devices even when Bluetooth is off. Disable this in your settings to add an extra layer of privacy. And, finally, check all your apps using Bluetooth. Some apps use Bluetooth to gather data even if they don’t need it. Check app permissions and disable Bluetooth access if it’s not essential.

5. Opt Out of Location-Based Ads and  Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Ever wondered why ads for a product you browsed once keep popping up everywhere? That’s not just coincidence—it’s location-based advertising at work. Many companies use your location data to bombard you with targeted ads based on places you’ve been.

How to opt out of location-based ads:

1. On iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services, and toggle off Location-Based Ads.

2. On Android: Head to Settings > Google > Ads, and enable Opt-out of Ads Personalization.

This won’t stop all ads, but it’ll reduce the number of creepily precise ones that track your every move.

You should also remember security is like a good home lock—one key is good, but two are better. Many apps that rely on location tracking store sensitive data, like your home address or frequently visited places. With two-factor authentication (2FA), even if someone manages to crack your password, they’ll still need a secondary form of verification—like a code sent to your phone—to access your account.

Most major apps and services support 2FA, including Google, Apple, Instagram, and banking apps. You can typically enable it by going into Settings > Security > Two-Factor Authentication.

The New Social Contract: Trust, But Verify

Location tracking is here to stay. Now it is an essential part of the modern world, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of your privacy. In this new social contract, it’s up to you to trust the technology, but still verifying and protecting your data along the way. Regularly educate yourself,  review your app permissions, stay updated on privacy news, and keep your software up to date. Remember your knowledge is power, especially when we are speaking about your privacy.

We hope you will wisely control your digital life due to following these privacy tips.  After all, in a world where your every move can be mapped, it’s good to know you still hold the compass.