On Thursday social media site Facebook launched an optional feature called “Nearby Friends” that allows American users to find friends in nearby locations.
According to the Associated Press, the anticipated add-on will be turned off automatically, and will not broadcast your exact position unless manually changed. With countless privacy fiascos in the past, Facebook is taking extra precautions to ensure users get the most out the feature without feeling scrutinized.
‘‘Once you start bringing this to a mass audience, you need to be cautious,” says Future of Privacy director Jules Polonetsky, whose think tank is working with Facebook on the project.
USA Today reports that Nearby Friends will be available to Android and iPhone users within weeks, though it may take more time for others with all of the additional security measures. The feature is said to work well with other location tracking apps like Tinder, Uber, and Hinge.
Product manager Andrea Vaccari says of Nearby Friends, "When you see a friend visiting a place you've been, it's the perfect opportunity to send a recommendation for a great restaurant”
Nearby Friends will only list friends nearby, not acquaintances, and will be limited to users over the age of 18.