Facebook 'Places' on by default - how to disable it

Facebook has just launched a new service called "Places."

My brother, who's a lawyer, just warned friends and family (via, what else, his Facebook account) that this new service is enabled by default.

As a Facebook member, I would rather the social network had broke this news to be itself (Places has appeared on my Facebook for iPhone app, but is not yet enabled).

Sifting through the different Places settings, which are scattered around Facebook's voluminous Settings screens, is a torturous process.

It should be easier, and all relevant settings in one place.

Location, location, location
Utilising your phone's GPS feature, Places lets people see your location, whether you're posting or leaving a comment after somebody else's Facebook post (you do have to "check in" to each location first, by clicking an icon - that is, if one of your friends hasn't already tagged you at the spot).

Facebook partners with a number of existing geo-location services for Places, including Four Square - which now has three million users worldwide and is growing fast.

Disabling Places
Now, I know many New Zealanders on Twitter are going mad for geo-location services, and simply can't share enough about what cafe, shop or bus stop their currently residing in - the better to alert friends in the general area.

But if you'd rather not share, log-on to Facebook, select Account (top right of the screen), click the Notifications tab, then scroll down and untick both Placescheckboxes. Don't forget to save.

Letting others tag your location ... or not
If you do want to use Places, note there's a second lot of settings to tweak to calibrate whether friends can tag your location on your behalf, and if so who can see that it.

Go to Account, Privacy Settings then click the Customize settings link under Sharing on Facebook.

On the screen that follows, can enable or disable whether friends can check you into Places, plus who can see that you've checked into a location (friends, friends of friends or anyone).

In its official Places explanatory video (pack a lunch, it goes on for a while), Facebook says you will receive an opt-in/opt-out email the first times somebody tags in a photo.

The LA Times has created a briefer video. which touches briefly on the boss-is-watching element (is there a diplomatic way to un-friend your manager? Watch it below.

The advent of Places has also led to an interesting debate over whether Facebook will help boost partners like Foursquare and Gowalla, or co-opt and overwhelm them. 

MediaPost has a good wrap-up of this sharply divided debate in its article Will Facebook Places Lift All Boats, Or Sink Them?