Facebook on Thursday began rolling out a feature permitting users of its mobile app to use smartphone location to find friends close to them.
The optional "nearby friends" feature "helps you discover that friends are nearby or on the go," aforementioned product manager Andrea Vaccari during a blog announcement.
"If you switch on nearby Friends, you will sometimes be notified when friends are nearby, thus you'll be able to get in contact with them and join up," Vaccari said.
"For example, once you are headed to the films, nearby Friends can allow you to understand if friends are nearby therefore you'll be able to see the movie together or join up later."
With the feature, Facebook takes a page from different location-based services as well as the network Foursquare, varied dating apps and also the recently launched social network individual SocialRadar.
With the Facebook feature, Vaccari aforesaid, "You will opt for who can see if you are close (for example: your friends, close friends, or a selected friends list) and you'll be able to turn it on and off at any time."
He added that the situation sharing should be mutual: "You and your friends each have to be compelled to activate nearby Friends and prefer to share with one another to check once you are close. Your friends can only be ready to see that you are close if you share this information with them and vice versa."
Facebook will also enable users to share a particular location with the actual friends for a collection period of your time.
"When you share your precise location, the friend you select will see exactly wherever you're on a map, that helps you discover each other," aforesaid Vaccari.
Facebook had an calculable 1.23 billion users at the top of December, and over one billion who use the social network on a mobile device.
The "nearby friends" feature are going to be offered for android and iPhone users within the united states over the coming weeks.
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