Location-Based Social Networks

Background

Of the LBSNs discussed in this paper, Google Latitude is probably the simplest in terms of its features. Its core goal is to “Let you see where your friends are right now” (Google, 2011). Each user can invite friends and family with a Google account to start sharing their location. Once users are visible to one another, each can see the other’s location every time they choose to update that information using the Latitude application installed on their mobile device or computer. Google offers a few simple ways to make use of this facility; keeping a history of your locations, receiving alerts to your phone that a friend is nearby or displaying your current location as your status message on the Google Talk service, for example. Latitude is an example of a LBSN which places emphasis on users’ control of their own location privacy, allowing users to only share locations with pre-authorised contacts and allowing location hiding for individual contacts.