Updating your location on social networks - good idea or dangerous?
Geo Location. It’s changing the way people update their status on social networks.
First came geolocation services like Brightkite Loopt and FourSquare - that interact with Twitter accounts.
Now Twitter itself is getting in the game letting you reveal your location when you post an update.
Facebook will reportedly start allowing you to post where you are next month.
So the big debate begins—should you?
On the positive side, you and your friends will know when you’re close by and can connect face to face. And you may discover businesses and places to visit you would have never known about, introduced by trusted friends you follow.
And you may be able to cash in eventually.
Starbucks is now tying coffee shop benefits to checkins on Four Square and other retailers are expected to do it too, giving people a bottom line reason to use the services.
More positives in this article by Verge New Media
But, law enforcement tends to think it’s a bad idea - it is only a matter of time before criminals start tracking this stuff and use it to figure out when people aren’t at home.
Sites like Please Rob Me have popped up to point out the dangers. They just have a running stream of people checking in at various locations, making it clear to the world (and the criminals) they are not home.
The popular blog Read Write The Web featured the dangers recently.
So are there some safer ways to use these services?
The StopSign Internet Security Blog suggests you NEVER update from:
Your house:
GPS data these days is so accurate that if your geolocation data is posted online it can show you not only your general neighborhood, but the precise location of your house. With a good satellite image from Google maps it’s even possible to discover what kind of car you drive and where good hiding spots are around your home.
Where you work:
For most people a large part of the day is spent at work. Geo-tagging from work allows anyone wishing to follow you to easily track where you are when you’re on the job.
Schools & daycare:
Our children are our most precious gift, and showing the world where they go to school or daycare is just about as dangerous as doing it from your home. Resist the urge to post location information when you’re waiting at the school pick-up circle.
Vacation spots:
We already know that tweeting can potentially lead to a home burglary, and if you add your geolocation tags to your vacation posts when you’re out of town, you’ll not only let criminals know you’re gone, you’ll let them know how long your house will be empty.
So what do you think, can you use these types of services? Will you? What are your best safety tips. Let’s get the conversation going in the comments below. Use your Facebook or Twitter login to post here, if that makes it easier.
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Amy's Social Web
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