How to share approximate location

If you want group members to know roughly where you are without revealing your exact position, you can share an approximate location. You only choose how large the area should be around your real location and Paralino does the rest.

How to turn it on#

1. Open the location sharing screen for the group you want to share with.
2. Select the approximate location option.
3. Choose a radius by moving the slider to the right or left.
4. Tap Start sharing or Save as usual.

The radius you choose determines how big of an area around your real location Paralino will share. Smaller value informs others about your general whereabouts, while a larger value gives you more privacy.

How it works#

When approximate location sharing is active, Paralino picks a random point within your chosen radius of your actual location. Your precise position is hidden, and others see only that random point.

That random point defines the center of the approximate area you are sharing. It stays the same while you remain inside that area. Only when you leave the area completely, Paralino will pick a new random point near your updated position.

Your map marker will not move much even as you move around. That is expected and it is what keeps your exact position private.

What others see#

What group members notice on your member card depends on whether device status is enabled on the location sharing screen:

• Device status off: Others can only see that your location is not accurate, but no specific status is shown.
• Device status on: Others see an Approximate location only status.

In both cases, they only see the approximate point and never your real position.

Place alerts#

Approximate location sharing affects place alerts. Because your shared position is imprecise and randomly picked, alerts for entering or leaving a place may be unreliable or may not work at all. Whether an alert fires depends on the place’s radius and how it’s size compares to your approximate sharing radius. If the place’s radius is smaller than your approximate sharing radius, the alerts won’t work at all for that place.

If you rely on place alerts, ensure that you are sharing your precise location.

Related settings#

For other options on the location sharing screen, such as speed, elevation, and battery level, see How to share speed, elevation, battery level.