Facebook Places is a new location tool that  has recently been launched by the Facebook team. I feel like this is something that many people will use incorrectly, annoyingly and also dangerously. Here are my thoughts on some of the problems that could result from Facebook Places.

Of course before I get into why this tool creeps me out let me start on a good note. I can understand that there are some benefits of knowing who is at the same concert, sporting event, or bar as me. It takes that whole “randomly bumping into someone feeling” to a whole new level. However…

Does this benefit really outweigh the pitfalls of the tool? The dangers?

I can foresee my wall being spammed with location updates. Why do I care if someone has just checked in at their house? Or at their local Target? Does it really matter to me if people are checking in to locations that are of minimal significance in our day-to-day life? I think that this places tool should be reserved for events, bars, and hotels. Why does it matter if I share that I’m shopping? Or hanging out at my house. Of course these are just minor annoyances and someone who is overusing their places tool can be blocked from my News Feed.

So what about the dangers?

By giving your location up to people (we all know some of our Facebook “friends” are not exactly friends) are you not also telling people where you are not. Theoretically couldn’t you be leaving yourself open to attacks at your home when you’ve tagged yourself as shopping at the mall an hour away? Or maybe you’ve tagged yourself somewhere and said that’ve gone for a walk alone could you end up being stalked by someone? Attacked?

What about the whole concept of other people being able to tag you as being at places with them. What if you don’t want their friends to know where you are. Maybe you have a psycho ex girlfriend who is still friends with someone you hang out with and she sees that you’re at a bar together. Uh-oh!

I understand that Facebook has taken security measures to limit the latter of the two examples I have given but, I’m sure the average Facebook user would not know where to go to change these, or would just not want to thinking that being tagged places is fun and exciting.

Maybe my concerns are out of line I do tend to have one of those conspiracy theorist kinds of minds. Let me know what you think about the launch of Facebook’s Places tool in the comments below. Do you plan to use it? Can you change my mind and convince me that it is in fact a more useful tool than I am making it out to be? Please let me know.

Image: Facebook

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