Skip to main content

Facebook Officially Announces Geolocation Product

Facebook’s long-awaited and often discussed location-based software that allows users to check-in, has officially been debuted after months of rumors and speculation. Dubbed Facebook Places, the app will debut later today.

The new service will require the use of a smartphone with W3 geolocation, but users with the app can also tag friends to the same location. The app will also combine other software, such as Yelp, which will pull up information and even pictures of the location you are tagged at. Once you have checked in, the app will then tell you if any of your friends have checked in nearby.

Recommended Videos

Users will be able to flag certain locations to be ignored by Facebook, such as home, work, or anywhere else where you desire your privacy, plus users can also opt out of the service completely. In the coming weeks, we will see more integration with other apps, such as Gowala, Booyah, and Foursquare, although the Facebook app does seem to cross over into such similar territory that it is difficult to see how they can all coexist.

So let the hi-tech stalking begin!

Ryan Fleming
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Fleming is the Gaming and Cinema Editor for Digital Trends. He joined the DT staff in 2009 after spending time covering…
Facebook might get chatbots — and that could be a problem
The Facebook app icon on an iPhone home screen, with other app icons surrounding it.

Facebook owner Meta is planning to introduce chatbots with distinct personalities to its social media app. The launch could come as soon as this September and would be a challenge to rivals like ChatGPT, but there are concerns that there could be serious implications for users’ privacy.

The idea comes from the Financial Times, which reports that the move is an attempt to boost engagement with Facebook users. The new tool could do this by providing fresh search capabilities or recommending content, all through humanlike discussions.

Read more
The products Apple didn’t announce at WWDC 2023
Live voicemail in iOS 17.

Expectations for Apple's annual WWDC event are always through the roof and, inevitably, some products we were expecting don't get announced. WWDC 2023 wasn't any different.

This year's show included some massive announcements, including the new Vision Pro headset and an updated Mac Pro, but there are still a lot of products Apple hasn't provided updates on that we could see later in the year.
24-inch iMac

Read more
How to get your share of Facebook’s $750M settlement
A silhouetted person holds a smartphone displaying the Facebook logo. They are standing in front of a sign showing the Meta logo.

Meta (formerly Facebook) might owe people who used the social media site between 2007 and 2022 some money due to privacy infringement, according to Mashable.

The social media giant has reached a settlement in a class-action lawsuit where it admits no fault in the claims against the company, but has agreed to pay out $725 million in damages. The money is available to all who submit a claim by the appropriate deadline of August 25, 2023. If you are (or were) a Facebook user, here's how to know if you're eligible and get your share of the settlement.
How to know if you're eligible
There are various stipulations you should take into consideration, including that the $725 million award will be truncated after Meta pays its legal and administrative fees. There are also eligibility, filing, and opt-out dates you want to note.

Read more