Forget that “home safe?” text you meant to send. Snapchat has just rolled out a new feature called Snapchat Home Safe Alerts that automatically lets a trusted friend know you’ve made it back. No typing required.
Home Safe is designed for those times you’re walking back from a gig, heading home after a date, or travelling solo. It’s a one-time alert that pings a mate when you return to your home base. No follow-up required. No group chat guilt.
And, yes, privacy’s still in check. You can only send alerts to people you already share your location with on Snap Map. Plus, Snap Map sharing is off by default. So if you don’t want anyone seeing where you are, nothing changes.
Snapchat built Home Safe with a clear brief: keep people connected without overstepping. Once someone triggers the alert, it sends only once. Then it switches off. No ongoing tracking. No endless updates.
Ryan Ferguson, Managing Director of Snap Inc. Australia and New Zealand, said it’s all about making things easier for people who care. “We all have those moments when we want to let friends and family know we’ve arrived safely,” he said. “But remembering to send a message can slip your mind. Home Safe alerts help take care of that.”
He also added that, “As a parent myself, it’s reassuring to be able to bring this new feature to our Aussie Snapchatters.”
Here’s how Snapchat Home Safe Alerts works:
- Set your home location on Snap Map by tapping your Bitmoji, then “My Home.” This setting is private and only visible to you and your approved location-sharing friends.
- Before heading out, go to your chat with the friend you want to notify. Tap the Map icon, then hit the “Home Safe” button.
- That’s it. When you walk back through your front door, the app sends a one-off message in your chat to say you’re back.
It’s not a blanket broadcast. And, it’s not designed for sharing every movement. It’s a safety tap for the people you trust, when you want to stay in touch.
Snap Map is already huge. Over 400 million people use it monthly to keep tabs on friends, meet up, or check what’s happening nearby. Last year, Snap added location sharing to its Family Centre tools, giving parents a new way to keep an eye on their kids without constant messaging.
Home Safe adds another layer to that. A simple alert for the moments that matter.
You’re not broadcasting your whole night out. You’re not inviting live commentary. Instead, you’re just making sure someone you care about knows you got in the door. No reminders. No missed messages. Just home safe.
