Today, Facebook launched a new feature called “Nearby Friends”. Just by looking at the feature name, I’m sure that you don’t need an explanation on what the feature does.
It’s a feature that’s in a way, really good for catching up with a friend (or friends) randomly while you are on and about. On the other hand, it can somewhat invade your privacy, especially if you are trying to avoid a friend (which may no longer be your friend?).
Now, before we go any further, note that you do have to turn this feature on first before your friends can, ahem, stalk you (and vice versa). You can set it so that only a specific list of friends (via Facebook list feature) can see when you are nearby and even get a notification about it.
It’s actually a useful Facebook’s new feature if you like catching up with old friends randomly or if you have a circle of best buddies, because you can do a quick catch-up while you wait for an event or a train to arrive.
You can even check who’s nearby on your lunch time and ask them to share a meal together.
On the other hand, if you turn this feature on globally (to all your Facebook friends), you may end up being in trouble when you just need some “me-alone” time. Just make sure you turn it off when you do require one because the settings can be turned on and off anytime.
Should you decide to do a meet-up, you can quickly share your exact location til a specified time to make it easier to find one another. You can even see where your friends are on the map. Pretty handy.
There is also another (creepier?) setting where your friends can find out where you are (when you are not nearby) so you can send them recommendation of places to check out. Or simply to stalk and find out where they are and what they are up to (and with whom).
Nearby Friends will be available on Android and iPhone over the coming weeks. I’ve just got a pop-up about it when I opened my Facebook app just now on iOS.
Note: Images courtesy of Facebook
