From Facebook:
“(Originally published on Wednesday, August 18, 2010)
If you’re like me, when you find a place you really like, you want to tell your friends you’re there. Maybe it’s a new restaurant, a beautiful hiking trail or an amazing live show.
Starting today, you can immediately tell people about that favorite spot with Facebook Places. You can share where you are and the friends you’re with in real time from your mobile device.”
This is pretty neat, but you don’t necessarily need (or want) everyone online to know where you are (or aren’t) located. Retain your privacy in 2 minutes with a few painless steps:
1. On the top right, click “Account” then “Privacy Settings”
2. This takes you to an overview of all of your settings. You’ll notice a new section “Places I check in to” (highlighted). Click “Customize Settings” just below this list.
3. You’re taken to a more detailed overview of your privacy settings. While you’re here, you might want to review your existing settings as well. Note the highlighted section and adjust your privacy preference with the drop down or checkbox on the right.
At minimum, I’d recommend making “Places I check in to” a “Friends Only” selection. If you’re interested in publicly sharing your location once you’ve opted to check in, keep the “Enable” box checked; if no, uncheck the box.
4. Just below this section is another option: “Friends can check me in to Places.” Do you trust your friends to responsibly tell the Internet where you are? Are you friends with people who may, for example check you into a bar during business hours or a strip club at any time? (As a joke, of course, because you clearly aren’t that kinda person!) Might want to disable this one. Your call.
Feeling lost? Try Facebook’s video instead:
