A major Facebook update to privacy and sharing settings also phases out Places
Importance:
Recommended link: Facebook blog announcement
Our commentary on Facebook update
Most sites have reported this update as a response by Facebook to Google+. It’s true that Facebook has surfaced features to make it easier to share with a custom group of friends (sound similar to G+ Circles?):
What we found most interesting in this update was this quote: We are phasing out the mobile-only Places feature. Settings associated with it are also being phased out or removed. (You can read more about how location works and settings affected here.
So Facebook is killing off the Places sub-brand, but the functionality seems to be continuing as a more integrated and less memorable “Share where you are”.
It’s now a much more subtle feature, but once switched on will show all your locations until you switch it off.
It doesn’t seem to be enabled within my Facebook just yet.
Marketing implications of Facebook changes
The change from Places is significant for marketers since it means the concept of the “check-in” in Facebook isn’t as explicit.
When Facebook Places was announced around a year ago it was said it would kill-off the location apps like Foursquare and Gowalla, but it seems that these will have a second life and good opportunities for engaging customers remain with these options for location-based marketing.
