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Facebook unveils new 'Places' feature

Original post made on Aug 19, 2010

Social-media giant Facebook unveiled its much-anticipated "Places" feature Wednesday, allowing users to share their real-time locations as well as to identify friends who are there with them. Even as privacy advocates complained the new service lacks safeguards to protect sensitive information, Facebook officers argued it will connect people and build community in new ways.

Read the full story here Web Link posted Thursday, August 19, 2010, 9:51 AM

Comments (9)

Posted by Alice Smith
a resident of Green Acres
on Aug 19, 2010 at 10:48 am

I can't imagine an easier way to help organized crime along, telling them when your place will be empty by telling them when you are on vacation. Like leaving messages on your answerphone. Sorry, not back til x day does the same thing.

Let's be a little bit cautious just how much personal info one puts out there.


Posted by More Info
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Aug 19, 2010 at 11:43 am

Found info on the web regarding this new FB feature:

Web Link

Page 1 of 8 mentions there is a way to disable this feature:
With Places' "People Here Now" feature, you will be able to see other people, including users who are not your Facebook friends, who have also recently checked in to your location (although this can be disabled) Facebook explains, "This section is visible for a limited amount of time and only to people who are checked in there. That way you can meet other people who might share your interests. If you prefer not to appear in this section, you can control whether you show up by unchecking the "Include me in 'People Here Now' after I check in" privacy control." Minors will only see their friends.

Also, on page 3 of 8 of this article, it mentions that this feature is only available with Smartphones and Blackberry, which in order to use, one will have to download to phone, so hopefully the user truly does have a choice whether or NOT they want to share location.


Posted by More Info
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Aug 19, 2010 at 11:45 am

Correction in last paragraph: is only available with Smartphones and iPhones (not Blackberry)


Posted by Bill
a resident of Barron Park
on Aug 19, 2010 at 12:30 pm

> The service will "help people share where they are in a really
> nice and social way," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said.

Wonder if Mr. Zuckerberg will be saying the same thing when he grows up and expects to live his life as a private person?


Posted by C
a resident of another community
on Aug 19, 2010 at 4:07 pm

Facebook makes it to easy to get and give info and I am not really in the mood for some friends to know my every thought. So don't bother looking for me on there. And I really don't think everybody needs to know where I am.


Posted by don't use it
a resident of Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 19, 2010 at 4:39 pm

Quit whining. If you don't want to use this feature, then don't use it. You don't have to quit Facebook to avoid this feature (like you would have to do if you want to avoid some of Facebook's other new features).


Posted by Jane
a resident of University South
on Aug 19, 2010 at 5:14 pm

We are being driven by the need for technology to earn money - so that our lives are tied to these gadgets more and more heavily. How sad. . .


Posted by Busy Geek
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Aug 19, 2010 at 8:18 pm

It is a huge waste of time having to check each day to see what your friends are saying. It is a lot faster just to call and talk.


Posted by anonymous
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Aug 19, 2010 at 9:00 pm

Perfect for narcissists.


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