The social networking site, Facebook, has been introduced to a new location depending network called Facebook Places. It is easy to see where your friends are at and know which friends are the closest with Facebook Places if you have a smartphone that uses GPS. For those who have a friend around, simply tag that they’re with you with Facebook Places. Places also suggests other locations nearby the user may be interested in. Broadcasting a user’s location has created another layer in the Facebook privacy issues debate. Businesses have a better chance of getting someone in their doors when they advertise to somebody with Facebook Places when that person is right outside their door. It would be easier for a criminal to find someone close to target. It is easy to disable Facebook privacy settings although it will continue to be difficult to keep personal details safe. Resource for this article – Facebook Places – the privacy issues of location-based networking by Personal Money Store.
Facebook Places – a tool for mobile advertising
Facebook Places imitates innovations created by location-based networks like Foursquare and Gowalla, which allow users to “check in” at places and broadcast their location to friends. The program is intended to get 500 million Facebook users aboard. The New York Times found this when talking to Michael Sharon who’s the product manager for Places. The Times found out that Facebook wants to work with small businesses for the Places program. Google could be beat out if Places can work with numerous companies like this. Analysts say both companies covet the potential market for mobile advertising and search. Corporations would do better if able to see where people will naturally check in with their phones.
Places is an additional privacy issue Facebook has to confront
Broadcasting the location of Facebook users and their friends at any given moment with Places for the benefit of mobile advertising comes off as creepy to Sam Diaz at ZDNet. Diaz writes that given the ability of guests at a party at his home turning his address into a public “place” on Facebook, his only recourse is to flag his address to have it removed. Tagging friends with you is another concern that he has. It would suck if your friend tagged you someplace you weren’t supposed to be. However, permission to be tagged by friends could be allowed or denied in Facebook privacy settings. And Diaz said he could not help but wonder how long it takes for Facebook Places to be used for a “who’s not home” app for burglars.
Make certain you are safe with Facebook Places
Facebook users should listen up. Keep your location on private settings with tips from Lifehacker. Places can only be changed if you change privacy settings. You will have to get on your Facebook account. Sadly, by default, your Facebook Places setting is already picked. It is set as allow locations. Also, Facebook lets you be seen on your Facebook page by default. You’ll be seen by everyone searching for users near them. Facebook has one other thing you should know about this default privacy setting. Friends of friends can see it meaning individuals you don’t know might know exactly where you are.
Additional reading
New York Times
nytimes.com/2010/08/19/technology/19facebook.html?ref=technology
ZDNet
zdnet.com/blog/btl/facebook-launches-places-geo-location-service-thats-both-cool-and-creepy/38203
Lifehacker
lifehacker.com/5616395/how-to-disable-facebook-places
