Big Brother isn’t the Only One Watching
“Geolocation is the identification of the real-world geographic location of an object, such as a cell phone or an Internet-connected computer terminal. Geolocation may refer to the practice of assessing the location, or to the actual assessed location.” -Via Wikipedia’s definition.
Here I Am
Taking this concept to a more personal level, “Checking in” on social networking sites has become a favorite for many people. Most find it thrilling to let their friends know where they are hanging out, in case they want join them, or perhaps to see if they are in the same establishment at the same time. Another reason is to introduce new places to people and see where their favorite places to go are. This brings a whole new dimension to marketing for businesses. They are grabbing a hold of this latest fad and running with it by offering instant discounts after check-in or things like free desserts.
To Much of A Good Thing?
When something becomes this popular this fast there are bound to be undesirable results in some aspect. We all know that most of the things we do on social media sites are usually not 100% private to begin with. Now, at any given time your precise location can be determined with most mobile devices coming with a GPS already installed. Based on your information, chatter, and photos sent from your internet and mobile devise via; Twitter, Flicker, Foursqaure, and many other social networking sites you can now be tracked or followed 24/7. Someone can effortlessly stalk you if they know how or with a little help from the appropriately called “creepy” App.
Stop Looking At Me
Will people continue to embrace this as they are now or will people start realizing that being tracked 24/7 is not always a good thing? Parents love it for sure, and as mentioned earlier, businesses can’t get enough of it… so the big question is will it last? Is leaving a digital thumbprint where ever you go really a good idea? Only time will tell. Not to say you should live a life of paranoia because that certainly is no way to live. Just learn to be cautious of your surroundings. Pay attention to who follows you on twitter, facebook, or any other social networking site you may frequently utilize. Learn about the privacy settings and how they work. If you really want to make sure you aren’t found, it might be best just to turn off your phone for the night.
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