lately there's been a lot of talk in the news about Apple and Android tracking their users. it was true on some level, the mobile devices operated by their software kept track of places the owners went to improve their use. i'm not going to bore you with the how, but in the end, if the phone remembers cell site info and wifi info, etc, performance improves.
my friends and i do a lot of these 'location based social networks'. Foursquare, Facebook Places, Loopt, and lately Google's Latitude. The first 4 you have to volunteer your location to, the last tracks you automatically. But, everyone needs to understand something here:
None of these services just show the world where you are. None of these show your location publicly. You have to approve everyone who can see your location.
Still there can be problems, with Facebook Places if you check in with someone else they fall under your security... meaning, they may have set it up so only certain people can see their Places check ins, but if you check them in, all of those who you've given permission to (which could be the whole world) can see their location.
BUT - in the end, I want to know who's out to get you? Sure, you'd be a moron to post your SSN and CC info online... but are you a member of royalty? are you a union leader? a high ranking government official from a third world country? when did you become a Hollywood movie star that's being pursued?
Everyone has the right to privacy - and should make use of it! But, if one of your friends wants to know what you're up to for an innocent reason, what are you hiding from them? And for me, I'm wondering why. I mean, we're not kids anymore, can't you be proud of how you live your life... even to your friends? Or is it more than that? Are you that big a deal?
or... do you really just wish you were that big a deal?
my friends and i do a lot of these 'location based social networks'. Foursquare, Facebook Places, Loopt, and lately Google's Latitude. The first 4 you have to volunteer your location to, the last tracks you automatically. But, everyone needs to understand something here:
None of these services just show the world where you are. None of these show your location publicly. You have to approve everyone who can see your location.
Still there can be problems, with Facebook Places if you check in with someone else they fall under your security... meaning, they may have set it up so only certain people can see their Places check ins, but if you check them in, all of those who you've given permission to (which could be the whole world) can see their location.
BUT - in the end, I want to know who's out to get you? Sure, you'd be a moron to post your SSN and CC info online... but are you a member of royalty? are you a union leader? a high ranking government official from a third world country? when did you become a Hollywood movie star that's being pursued?
Everyone has the right to privacy - and should make use of it! But, if one of your friends wants to know what you're up to for an innocent reason, what are you hiding from them? And for me, I'm wondering why. I mean, we're not kids anymore, can't you be proud of how you live your life... even to your friends? Or is it more than that? Are you that big a deal?
or... do you really just wish you were that big a deal?
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