The other day, Facebook launched a new feature called Places that lets you and your friends check in to locations, Foursquare-style. It’s a feature many are excited about and also one that many don’t want to use.
Some of us just don’t want the entire world to know we’re at the gym… or the coffee shop… or out for dinner, or worse yet…on the road and checking into a hotel in another city.
This kind of information opens the door to the element of people that make it a living to prey on the unsuspecting people that have let everybody know that they’re not home.
As you might imagine, there were many postings on Facebook about how to disable this but unfortunately I saw a few that didn’t cover this topic completely.
Whether or not you want to disable them is entirely up to you. If you’d prefer to keep your location private, or at least stop your friends from posting it, here’s how to opt out of Facebook Places.
Facebook is creating some new tools that will really help people and business stay connected. Unfortunately, when they release them they automatically set you up as a willing participant. It’s up to you to decide if you want to play along and if not then you have to take control and change things.
I hope you found this helpful. Please share it with with your friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter so that they can be informed. As always, I’d enjoy any comments you have on this topic.
Until next time, go out and Live Your Best Life!
Don,
Thanks for walking me through step by step! If I’m going to change the options, I need the details! I’ve learned from you every time I’ve visited your blog! I appreciate it!
~Linda
Linda G. Cox recently posted..Baby Boomer Generation
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Don Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 1:16 pm
Linda,
I’m glad you appreciated this and that you keep finding value when you return. Thanks for letting me know.
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Thanks Don. I appreciate this great tutorial. I didn’t understand it until I watched this video.Thanks so much.
Beverly Monical recently posted..How To Craft The Perfect Pitch
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Don Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Hi Beverly,
I’m glad I was able to help with this.
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Thanks so much Don!
I played your video and opted out step by step.
This was very helpful because of all the buzz, I didn’t know how to do it!
Thanks again,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Quality versus Quantity – Social Marketing Strategies
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Don Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 1:18 pm
Happy to be of service. Thanks Donna.
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Another fantastic tutorial, Don! I like your focus lately here on your blog, making timely videos about how to do simple things that can make a big difference in our online experiences. I definitely found this tutorial informative! I followed your instructions exactly and am now feeling less “exposed.”
Mary Lou
Mary Lou Kayser recently posted..Read This ONLY If You Want to Blast Your Online Credibility into the Stratosphere
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Don Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Mary Lou,
I’ve just been finding things that have struck me as timely and something that would be beneficial to others and felt I’d pass it along
Thanks!
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Don,
Thanks for this. I had no idea there was so much to opting out of this. As you said, when Facebook adds a new app, they automatically opt you in to it, without asking if that’s what you want.
This video and your instructions provide a valuable service for those of us who would rather not let people where we are whenever we log on to Facebook.
Justin
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Don Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 4:51 pm
Justin,
You’re right, there’s more to meet the eye on this. People should have a choice on if they want to be a part of all Facebook’s new applications and not just automatically enrolled. Some people are loving this app and that’s great but if you want to be private you have to take matters into your own hands.
Thanks for stoping by!
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Hi Don,
Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Although I had heard of Facebook places I didn’t think to look into it because that wasn’t something I planned to use. I had no idea that I needed to take action to protect myself. I appreciate that you showed me how
Thanks again,
Dena
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Don Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Hi Dena,
That was my case too. I don’t do mobile updates but letting other people tag me and add me to a place we’re at is not my idea of public knowledge for all the FB world to see. If I want someone to know where I’m at I’ll post it myself.
Thanks for commenting!
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I appreciate this great info Don!
I had no idea all this was available. I better keep up on all the new things that FB is allowing or creating. Your video was really good as a step by step for changing my defaults.
Val
Val Wilcox recently posted..Are Competing Commitments Holding You Back
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Don Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 4:52 pm
Thanks Val,
It’s an ever changing landscape out there on Facebook and sometimes tough to keep up with it.
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Another terrific post, Don. The last thing I want is for the Facebook world to know where I am. Your instructions were clear and concise and I’ll sleep better tonight, knowing that the privacy settings are covered.
You’re a good teacher:)
Darlene Davis recently posted..Transitions Revisited
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Don Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 4:52 pm
Thanks darlene, I appreciate it.
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Hi Don, like the rest of the readers I had no idea about this new application or that it could be so detailed to opt out of it. Will follow your video again and do it all step by step.
Belinda
belinda cunningham recently posted..What do you want the most
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Don this is an excellent tutorial. I did not understand it until watching this – so thank you. I had actually never thought through the implications of the world knowing when you are away from your home – but now I have.
I love the ocean before these tutorials as well.
Sue
Sue Price recently posted..Education or Mindset – Which Matters Most
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Don Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 6:55 am
Thanks Sue,
I like that we can decide if we want to make it known where we are at. What I don’t like is that someone else can make it known that I’m somewhere. It should be up to us to decide who knows what about our where a bouts.
Glad you liked the opening and the ocean clip. I’ve been exploring some other things to make video a little more interesting for the viewers.
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Very helpful indeed Don. Thank you!
It is quite important that more people understand this, particularly from a security point.
Surely Face Book could have made it an optional “opt-in” application like so many of the others?
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Don Reply:
September 3rd, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Michael,
Facebook make an “opt in” option? LOL!
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Thank you Don! I wasn’t aware of that. I will implement the changes you indicate in your tutorial right now!
Cheers
Paola
paola devescovi recently posted..Your Home- A Vehicle To Express Your Potential
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Don – Thank you so much for sharing this. I didn’t know it existed so I really appreciate it. I’m going to get on this right now!
Glyna Humm recently posted..Make Them Smile With Appreciation Marketing
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Don Reply:
September 3rd, 2010 at 7:48 pm
Glyna,
Sometimes it’s amazing what FB does right under our noses.
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Thanks for this great tutorial Don. I wish I had had your clear and easy to follow instructions last week when I was disabling this application on facebook. It took me ages to work out how to do it
Louise
Louise Steiner recently posted..Ezine Article Submission Tips – 7 Simple Rules To Get Your Article Approved First Time
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Don Reply:
September 4th, 2010 at 7:54 pm
That’s too funny Louise…I guess I should’ve posted it earlier
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Hi Don,
Thanks for the great info.
Blessings,
Dwayne Yoder
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Hi Don!
Wow, Thank you so much! I had no idea and I am so glad that you did this post! I followed along and I did everything that you showed me. It was very well done. I especially liked how you showed us exactly where to go
by circling and highlighting the area we needed to click on. So often I’ll try to follow a video like this and I can’t figure it out. This was easy to follow and right to the point! Thanks again!
Mentor Mama
Nancy Burke Barr, JD recently posted..MIKE DILLARD Grilled by Mentor Mama! Grill the Guru- Episode I
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Don Reply:
September 7th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Thanks Nancy,
I’m glad my tutorial was easy for you to follow. It’s only something I’ve done recently and so I wanted to make it easy to use. I appreciate your feedback.
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Thanks Don…I just went step by step with your tutorial. I really appreciate it very much!
I really don’t understand the defaults for Facebook…they are quite invasive. I would think it would be the other way around.
Anyhow…great to have you on the front lines.
Bruce Backman recently posted..How to Create Ebooks- Video Tutorials- Audio Series and so much more by attending Crushers College
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Don Reply:
September 7th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Bruce,
Thanks for the feedback and for stopping by my blog.
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Don, great stuff!
Bless
Enomfon
Enomfon recently posted..Tools ‹ Family Wealth Attraction — WordPress
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Thanks for taking the time to look into the details for this task. It’s been on my mind and this def helps.
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Thanks Don. You have saved me a lot of “figuring it out” time!
Helen Wenley recently posted..Vitamin D does more than just prevent the flu
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Don Reply:
September 7th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
Thanks Helen for stopping by and leaving a comment. I’m glad I could save you some time.
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Yay! You sure cleared that up… it is ever changing
Robin Lynn Brooks recently posted..Powerful Healing Strawberries!
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Fabulous post Don. I was vaguely aware of these new features but did not know the degree of exposure, that comes with them. Thank you for such a detailed tutorial on how to change our setting.
When I get a moment I will head over and make a decision on what things I want activated.
Superb work.
Faith
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Don Reply:
September 23rd, 2010 at 9:25 am
Thanks Faith,
I’m glad you found the tutorial helpful. I just wish Facebook would let us know when they add new things. They seem so stealthy at times.
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Great tip and tutorial Don. I really wish so many were not entirely opting out of it as its kinda neat. Brings a taste of foursquares into facebook. I enjoy posting from it although of course you have to be sensible about what you post from where and when. Very disappointed at so many making the gut reflex reaction to disable it rather than thinking about how they can put it to use.
Kim
Kimberly Castleberry recently posted..How to Rewrite PLR Content
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Aloha Don,
Thank you for the step-by-step video of opting out of facebook places. Most do not know that the default is opting them in, so this is perfect!
Thank you,
Kellie
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