Facebook: Places Out, Location In
If you look way, way down in its blog post about its new sharing features, you’ll see Facebook has announced the end of its location-based Places feature.
But have no fear, people who complain they’re being stalked by their Facebook friends but still check in at every single place they go. Places will be replaced by the ability to tag your location in a post. So in addition to real-time geolocation, a user at home can pinpoint a place they have been to, or are planning to hit.
It’s all a part of Google’s privacy tweaks. Which is great news for those people who may have friended that sketchy guy who had a thing for them in college and seem to be lurking everywhere they check in. With Locations, the user can determine who does and who doesn’t get the info about where he or she is checking in.
I think this is good news for marketers as well. By bringing the location service multichannel, if will give marketers more options when it comes to rewarding their loyal fans. No longer will a fan have to check-in at a location to get a coupon, etc. A restaurant, for example, could reward Facebook fans who choose to spread the word about their past or future trips from the comfort of their own home.
Here’s some feedback across the Web regarding Facebook’s announcement:
- ZDNet: Facebook kills Places, but emphasizes location sharing more?
- The Register: Facebook ditches Places – but embiggens location tracking
- Mashable: Facebook’s Big Privacy Changes: An Overview
- ClickZ: Dunkin’ Donuts Rides Out Facebook Places’ Last Days?
- Venture Beat: Foursquare wins major victory with death of Facebook Places
