Facebook Places launched tonight, and this blog post is intended to provide you with a 1-minute read about the new update. Most importantly, I have recommendations for your privacy settings you should look at before you get started using this new feature.

• Facebook Places is a feature within Facebook that is very similar to Foursquare and Gowalla.




• You can check in on Facebook, through the iPhone app, just like Foursquare and Gowalla.




• You can also check in and post to Facebook Places -using- Foursquare and Gowalla.




• There are no “Mayors” of locations.




• There are no “Badges”, “Pins”, or “Points”.




• When you check in you can tag your friends and check them in too.




• Just like Foursquare, you can leave comments at specific locations. When you check in, if any of your friends have been there, you will see their comments (just like Foursquare).




• Applications and websites that utilize Facebook, can and will be able to utilize your location check-in data if you approve it in your settings.




• Businesses and companies CAN claim their locations on Facebook Places.





• For businesses and company locations, there WILL be a “Like” button on the page. So upon check in, you can “Like” their page and get updates.





• FAQs for Facebook Places
• Article: “The Implications of Facebook Places” (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Article: “Facebook Places: What It Is, What It Isn’t, and Why It May Change the World” (Forrester)

Security and Privacy
I suggest that you check your privacy settings right now for Facebook Places (click ‘Account’ in the top right, then ‘Privacy Settings’):

1.) Review the privacy setting for “Places I check in”. By default, it’s set to Friends Only.

2.) *I would recommend changing the setting for “Friends can check me into Places” to be DISABLED*. Personally, I want to be in full control of disclosing my location. I would not feel comfortable allowing others to do this for me on my behalf. Not that I have anything to hide, but I can see how this feature would get abused and others could check you into places.

3.) Review if you would like your name to appear on the “People Here Now” screen when your friends check in at locations.