How to track your friends’ location like Taylor Swift — and Scheana from ‘Vanderpump Rules’

Scheana Shay from “Vanderpump Rules,” a Bravo reality TV show that gained popularity after the “#Scandoval” firestorm, received a lot of flack after admitting that she tracks the location of 56 people.

And now, with the launch of Taylor Swift’s 11th studio album,The Tortured Poet’s Department, location tracking is getting some more spotlight after the songstress admitted to keeping tabs on an ex-boyfriend’s location.

In “Black Dog,” Swift revealed that her ex forgot to revoke her access for tracking his location, allowing her to see him walking into a bar called Black Dog.

With all of this hoopla about location tracking, you may be wondering how to do it yourself.

How to use your iPhone to track your friends’ location

First off, it’s important to note that you cannot track anyone’s location without their permission. As such, before tracking anyone’s location, the target will receive a prompt that will allow you to access their whereabouts.

Here’s a quick how-to on how to keep tabs on your friends — for safety, of course.

1. Tap on the ‘Messages’ app.


Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

2. Tap on the friend or loved one you’d like to track.

3. Tap on the ‘+’ button.


Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

4. Hit ‘Location.’


Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

5. You may get an “Allow ‘Messages’ to use your location” prompt. Hit ‘Allow While Using App.’


Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

6. Tap on the blue arrow to send the location request.


Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

If your location request is accepted, you’ll get a notification and see a small map that lets you see your loved one’s current whereabouts.


Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

You can click on it to grab directions or share it with someone else.