Location Based Platforms

By Mikala Lindhardt

            Social media and technology is amazing. It is always evolving and one thing that makes it so amazing is the ability to have your location services turned on, on your phone or whatever mobile device you have, and share it with the world if you wish.

            I thought it would be fun to talk about the pros and cons of this service. Let’s talk about the cons first. (It’s always better to end on a happy note) J

            Con: Security. Let’s use Facebook as an example. An article that talked about this privacy issue could have many people worried. It said, “with Facebook facing a backlash over recent changes that share information about your activity on select Web sites, and an unrelated snafu that exposed users' private chats, it's natural to worry that geolocation features from Facebook could venture beyond your comfort zone. I just hope the service is opt-in, and that Facebook clearly explains to users how their location information will be used.”

            It is also important to realize we are the ones who set our privacy settings and we are the ones who post. Of course hackers are still out there, but we need to use our heads when we are posting on social media sites, especially posting our location. It would probably not be a good idea to post that you are going out of town for a few days or a few weeks because all that does is give thieves an invitation to your home and makes it so much easier for them to steal from you.

            Let’s talk about something more positive though.

            Pros: Emergency situations. The same article, also talked about some pros of location devices and a GPS tracker. Take a hypothetical situation. You are out hiking and get lost from your group. You don’t know where you are, but you have your phone with you. With location services and a GPS you will better be able to find your way out. Also, if you are stranded and injured, emergency personnel will be able to track your mobile device and find you easier and more accurately.

            Pros: Business. If you are a business owner, you should really take advantage of these location and GPS services. In an article it says, “Combining mobile and location-based services, social tools such as Foursquare and Yelp have been changing the way customers interact with the physical location of a business. These services offer more information for consumers, helping them make more informed decisions on where to eat, sleep, shop and relax.” If you are a business owner, it would be in your best interest to take advantage of social media and use your location to the fullest. Put yourself on social media sites and location services so people will be notified when they are within a certain radius.