Location applications, like Foursquare and its new competitor Facebook Places, make me uncomfortable. As we continue to provide full disclosure online about everything we do in our lives, I feel that location applications cross the line. Not only can you figure out what a person is doing at any given time, how they are feeling about it, and who they are with but now you can figure out exactly where they physically are. This takes the ability to stalk a person to a whole new level. (Note: Let’s be real all this online disclosure has honestly turned us all into some level of stalker.)
I understand the goal of these apps through ads like this: Facebook Places Promo Video. I feel that these ads are a little naive. Do people honestly enjoy “serendipitous” meetings over simply contacting your friend up front about their location and if they want to hang out? Do people really want everyone knowing exactly where they are at all times? Is that even safe? I am surprised there haven’t been more stories about looting and attacks due to someone following someone else’s every move and deciding to take advantage. Maybe I am a person that enjoys my privacy too much. I mean yes I do share information about what I am doing through social media outlets, but I draw the line when it comes to explicitly telling people my GPS coordinates.
I get the whole earn points and badges at your favorite places to compete with others and show your loyalty to the business, but I also feel that those activities are somewhat of a cover for what is really being obtained which is simply your location. I guess we will just have to see what happens. Keep checking in fouresquarers… hopefully you have no dangerous stalkers patiently awaiting your next move.
November 26, 2010 at 10:47 am
found your site on del.icio.us today and really liked it.. i bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later