Facebook Launches Location Based Product

adeelarshad82 writes "Facebook officially launched its 'Places' location-based product, backed by seeming rivals Foursquare and Gowalla. Facebook had been expected to announce a location service ever since it announced the press conference earlier this week. The Places service officially goes live August 19, although an iPhone app will go live on the August 18. According to Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook Places has been in development for several months. It had three goals, he said: helping share where you are in a nice and social way, to see who's around you, and just discover new and cool places to visit in the future."

Re:Turn it Off

[Anonymous Coward]

What? It is enabled by default?

Again?

When is Facebook going to learn?

Re:Don't input any real data

[Tim C]

I don't know why anyone would put any real data into a service like Facebook.

Because I have actual real-life friends on Facebook, and as I am interested in seeing what they're up to from time to time, I assume that that interest is reciprocated. I have also made new friends on Facebook and similar sites, some of which have become genuine, real life friends.

Facebook gets useful demographic data about me that they use to target adverts at me (that I block and/or ignore), I get to keep in touch with friends more easily (especially ones that are geographically distant) and sometimes make new ones. To me, I come off best in that trade. Your mileage may (and clearly does) vary.

Facebook, the swiss army knife for the stalker

[joshier]

This really is turning into a great tool for obsessive people. Here's an example; I'm on facebook and I am updated about what new friends my friends have. Why on earth should I know this? It is utterly pointless and makes you feel like a stalker. As for the location business, it's like a ticking time bomb to me until the media focus on a particular crime where the attacker used facebook as a means to gather private information about whereabouts. Facebook is either really stupid, or they think they are invincible.