# Automatically obscure observations marked as "human" **URL:** \ **Category:** Feature Requests\ **Tags:** implemented\ **Created:** [March 1, 2019, 9:28pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/automatically-obscure-observations-marked-as-human/501 "2019-03-01T21:28:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![graysquirrel](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/graysquirrel/32/127_2.png) [@graysquirrel](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/graysquirrel)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 9:28pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/automatically-obscure-observations-marked-as-human/501/1 "2019-03-01T21:28:26Z")
This just occurred to me as I was going through the Needs ID and ran across a few schoolchildren’s ‘observations’ of each other, but we should probably automatically obscure the location on ‘human’ observations, since kids have zero clues about it being a bad idea to post pics of each other that are geotagged to where they live or go to school. Even more so since the ‘subject’ of the observation is usually not the one posting the images. I doubt it’s ever been an issue, but it’s something that would probably be best to head off before it can become one. ---
**Author:** ![cmcheatle](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/cmcheatle/32/37_2.png) [@cmcheatle](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/cmcheatle)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 9:34pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/automatically-obscure-observations-marked-as-human/501/2 "2019-03-01T21:34:33Z")
The only comment I have is tied into this discussions : [https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/geoprivacy-obscuring-and-auto-obscure-discussion/457/19](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/geoprivacy-obscuring-and-auto-obscure-discussion/457/19) Human is in about the top 30 most reported species on the site, it will make a mess of maps in some cases. Personally I’ve never understood why they are not simply deleted. ---
**Author:** ![charlie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@charlie](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/charlie)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 9:37pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/automatically-obscure-observations-marked-as-human/501/3 "2019-03-01T21:37:38Z")
one could consider a flag for ‘likely underage individual in photo’ that would obscure or hide the photo. I’m not sure how serious an issue this is given how the entire internet and social media in general is already saturated with pictures of kids, etc. Though it isn’t the sort of content the site should have anyway. Some teachers even tell students to post with the other species in their picture, though they aren’t supposed to. it’s to keep them from ‘cheating’ i guess. ---
**Author:** ![graysquirrel](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/graysquirrel/32/127_2.png) [@graysquirrel](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/graysquirrel)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 9:44pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/automatically-obscure-observations-marked-as-human/501/4 "2019-03-01T21:44:53Z")
> [@cmcheatle](#): > > Human is in about the top 30 most reported species on the site, it will make a mess of maps in some cases. Hm, good point, I hadn’t thought of that. ---
**Author:** ![jdmore](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jdmore/32/1116_2.png) [@jdmore](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jdmore)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 10:22pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/automatically-obscure-observations-marked-as-human/501/5 "2019-03-01T22:22:11Z")
> [@cmcheatle](#): > > Human is in about the top 30 most reported species on the site, it will make a mess of maps in some cases. Do we care if maps of Homo sapiens are messed up? Or does it affect maps of other taxa in some way I am not comprehending? Edit: hmmm, higher parent taxa, I suppose… ---
**Author:** ![saturnring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@saturnring](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/saturnring)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2019, 1:35am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/automatically-obscure-observations-marked-as-human/501/6 "2019-03-02T01:35:11Z")
> [@cmcheatle](#): > > Personally I’ve never understood why they are not simply deleted. I would vote for that. ---
**Author:** ![nanofishology](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/nanofishology/32/3108_2.png) [@nanofishology](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/nanofishology)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 7:58am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/automatically-obscure-observations-marked-as-human/501/7 "2019-03-14T07:58:58Z")
> Personally I’ve never understood why they are not simply deleted. The fact that they are not really taken seriously means they are a fun way to document the “human” aspects of bioblitzes and iNat-centered get-togethers. Here are just two examples. [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10674553](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10674553) (I feel some of this would be lost in a journal post) [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/11024832](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/11024832) (that’s tiwane peeking in from the right) Yes, they’re messy. Yes, kids mess around with the app and cause problems. But also, it can make the site more fun, more engaging, and I am not the only person who makes “human” observations during bioblitzes. I often run out of steam after uploading a couple thousand observations after one of those things, so I don’t get around to making the journal post I’d like to. Those human observations are it. One more: [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10696200](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10696200) (I still have that “net” in my car) ---
**Author:** ![jdmore](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jdmore/32/1116_2.png) [@jdmore](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jdmore)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2019, 1:20am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/automatically-obscure-observations-marked-as-human/501/8 "2019-03-15T01:20:08Z")
> [@nanofishology](#): > > [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/11024832](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/11024832) (that’s tiwane peeking in from the right) Great visual example of a [shared observation](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/observations-shared-between-users/337)! ---
**Author:** ![tony\_wills](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/tony_wills/32/1094_2.png) [@tony\_wills](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/tony_wills)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2019, 1:40am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/automatically-obscure-observations-marked-as-human/501/9 "2019-03-15T01:40:36Z")
This one is simple, just change the status of the homo-sapien taxa to endangered, which they certainly are - the most likely thing that will wipe out mankind is not a comet or plague, but mankind (peoplekind?) themselves ;-) ---
**Author:** ![tiwane](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/tiwane/32/54612_2.png) [@tiwane](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/tiwane)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 11:53pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/automatically-obscure-observations-marked-as-human/501/10 "2019-05-23T23:53:35Z")
Humans are automatically marked as casual, so it shouldn’t mess up the map unless you are actively looking for casual grade observations. ---
**Author:** ![Star3](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/star3/32/73028_2.png) [@Star3](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/Star3)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2020, 6:06pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/automatically-obscure-observations-marked-as-human/501/13 "2020-07-03T18:06:29Z")
> [@charlie](#): > > one could consider a flag for ‘likely underage individual in photo’ that would obscure or hide the photo. The annotations would have to be correct, and lots of people (both the uploaders and subsequent identifiers) don’t bother to annotate Humans. ---
**Author:** ![orlandob](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/orlandob/32/11634_2.png) [@orlandob](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/orlandob)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2020, 2:43am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/automatically-obscure-observations-marked-as-human/501/14 "2020-07-06T02:43:05Z")
Same, I dont see any need for it. ---
**Author:** ![jdmore](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jdmore/32/1116_2.png) [@jdmore](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jdmore)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 6:20pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/automatically-obscure-observations-marked-as-human/501/15 "2025-05-15T18:20:38Z")
Related discussion here: [https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/human-observations-in-schools/65078/84](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/human-observations-in-schools/65078/84) ---
**Author:** ![cthawley](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/cthawley/32/1445_2.png) [@cthawley](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/cthawley)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 3:52pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/automatically-obscure-observations-marked-as-human/501/19 "2025-08-17T15:52:00Z")
Implemented 8/4/2025 ---
**Author:** ![cthawley](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/cthawley/32/1445_2.png) [@cthawley](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/cthawley)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 3:52pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/automatically-obscure-observations-marked-as-human/501/20 "2025-08-17T15:52:05Z")