Facebook Places Causing a Stir

Last week Facebook announced a new application designed to let all your friends know exactly where you are by using GPS in smart phones.  The blogosphere is already full of articles lambasting Facebook for privacy issues, debating whether Foursquare and Gowalla will stand a chance, and some even praising Facebook for considering privacy issues before the release of a potentially prickly service.

Already, the Internet is full of contradicting information on how the program will actually work.  This Associated Press article on Yahoo gives kudos to Facebook for anticipating privacy issues and states, “If you're out and about with friends, you'll be able to "tag" them using the (at) symbol, much the same way you can already tag them in your status updates. Your friend will then be notified that you have tagged them and can choose to check in too, or reject it.”  To me, this implies that I will get a new notification every time someone tries to check me in, which I can either approve or deny.

However, Mashable also reports, “For example, the feature lets users select a “not now” option when friends attempt to check them in, but not a “never” option to prevent friends from attempting to do so in the future. Further, if you’re already a Places user, friends can just check you in automatically.”  Being checked in automatically simply for using an application doesn’t sound like being sensitive to privacy to me, nor does it sounds like I will get a notification every time someone tries to check me in.  

In addition, the ACLU posits that the “Here Now” feature is extremely sensitive because anyone in the same location can see that you are there—that means globally, friends or not.  They’ve already set up a page to inform people about the persnickety new features, and how to protect your privacy here.

Last but not least of all is whether or not Facebook is trying to crush Foursquare and other start up location-based social media applications.  Right now, the main edge attributed to Foursquare is that it is a game.  You can be the Mayor, you can get discounts at Starbucks, and all your friends are playing.  With Facebook, you don’t really get anything for letting people know you are there.  In fact, you might have just let your creepy stalker ex-boyfriend find out where you are.  Also, is Facebook deliberately going after Foursquare’s market share?  The newly released places logo has a subtle number four in a square map.  One could say it is accidental, but considering how much Facebook is paying for marketing these days, it could have hardly gone unnoticed.  For a nice rundown of Foursquare vs. Facebook, New York Magazine has a fun article in support of Foursquare.