Apparently, fiascos resulting from MySpace invitations (see Corey Delany) and glitches in Facebook's privacy settings (see Paris Hilton) haven't deterred users from broadcasting their personal information online. Even when the service that enables them to do so has a creepy logo with serious surveillance implications.
As CNET reports on its Download Blog, a new Facebook app called FindMe installs on your phone and updates your status with your whereabouts when you move into the range of a new cell tower. Tags such as "work" or "home" display automatically when you enter designated zones, or you can update manually with an address and set privacy controls to restrict who sees that info.
It's not uncommon for users to become status-obsessed on Facebook, and this service will certainly eliminate some button-pressing for them. But it also brings to light some important questions about the usefulness and need of status updates and location-tracking features, in general.
Is "status" usable in both senses of the term, with our location serving as a signifier of how hip we are (or how dedicated we are to work)? Or do we want to feel connected to people we interact with online, but rarely actually see?
I have a feeling it's all of the above. And I also have a feeling I'll be skipping out on this one. If you want to give it a try, though, search for "Find Me" on Facebook, click the Applications tab in the results, and look for the creepy radar image linked to above.
