Each photo you take collects more than a memory; smartphones and cameras store tons of data with each snap. Even if your photos are only for personal use, every image contains EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) data.
EXIF data includes information like photograph location, a time and date stamp, device information, and camera settings. Wherever that image goes — whether you post it on social media, text it to a friend, or upload it to the cloud — the EXIF data goes, too.
Another complicating factor? Many social media sites keep the EXIF info on purpose. Facebook, for example, may use EXIF information to customize your experience. Sites like Flickr give users control over their EXIF info, and various others (including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and WhatsApp) hide the data from other users, but it’s unclear how the sites themselves may use it.
If prevention is the goal, versus relying on apps to scrub the data for you, learn how to access your photos’ metadata and explore your device settings. Turning off the camera’s location feature (under Location Services on iOS and under Camera on Android) is the first step in keeping you and your images safe. Another simple fix is to use Google Photos or Apple Photos to share images and select the option to do so without EXIF data.
