Facebook quietly pulls the recently released 'Find Friends Nearby'

[garyopa]

Only hours after releasing it.



Facebook's location-based 'Find Friends Nearby' app was introduced under the radar, but a rather 'frosty' reception saw it withdrawn just 24 hours later...

Yep, Facebook seemed to be "taking a step" in the location-based app direction with the launch of Find Friends Nearby service.

However, the company decided to quickly pull it off from its iOS and Android apps, and disable the mobile page, just 24 hours later!

The mobile-based feature, originally conceived as ‘Friendshake' at an all-night company hackathon, allowed users to track people around them, making it easier to add someone as a friend if they had just met. The app's Facebook page explained, "People who appear [on the app's tab] are nearby and have this page open. To add a friend who's not on the list, ask them to open this page: fb.com/ffn. They should appear on the list shortly."

On the surface the app's launch simply represented another effort from Facebook to broaden its mobile experience. But the nature of the tracking feature led to many dubbing it ‘creepy', with bloggers and tweeters soon calling it the ‘stalking app'. Not the best publicity for a company often derided for flouting privacy concerns.

This was the Facebook statement:

“This wasn’t a formal release — this was just something that a few engineers were testing. With all tests, some get released as full products, others don’t. Nothing more to say on this for now, but we’ll communicate to everyone when there is something to say.”

However, it may not be the end for the "test-app" just yet.

Back in May, Facebook acquired Glancee - itself a friend-finding app - highlighting the social network's intention to develop location-based features of this nature.

So, most likely we will see a more 'complete' installment of this thing in the future. But definitely, Facebook engineers should keep its tests internal from now on...

NEWS SOURCE #1: Facebook quietly releases Find Friends Nearby then quietly pulls it (via) Wired
NEWS SOURCE #2: Facebook quickly pulls plug on Find Friends Nearby stalker app (via) ItProPortal

Our thanks to 'Gauss' for this news item!

[msanchez]

Facebook has been trying to find new ways to invade our privacy, but I'll at least give them credit for backstepping when they are caught. If it was sony they would no doubt continue going about their business (a.ka. screwing the people that pay for their products) despite what their customers think.

[garyopa]

Facebook has been trying to find new ways to invade our privacy, but I'll at least give them credit for backstepping when they are caught. If it was sony they would no doubt continue going about their business (a.ka. screwing the people that pay for their products) despite what their customers think.

I think the 'Privacy' thingie or 'It Was Only A Test' was a quick exit for Facebook, as the real reason was the moment the news launched, other third-party app developers were going to launch lawsuits.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57...d-itself-sued/

So they pulled it, now most likely are sitting in closed broadroom ironing out a way around this problem, or throwing cash down in front of them to make them part of the ever expanding big fish called FB.

[msanchez]

I think the 'Privacy' thingie or 'It Was Only A Test' was a quick exit for Facebook, as the real reason was the moment the news launched, other third-party app developers were going to launch lawsuits.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57...d-itself-sued/

So they pulled it, now most likely are sitting in closed broadroom ironing out a way around this problem, or throwing cash down in front of them to make them part of the ever expanding big fish called FB.

Wouldn't doubt it, still regardless of what they come up with I'm not installing the facebook app on my phone.

[garyopa]

Wouldn't doubt it, still regardless of what they come up with I'm not installing the facebook app on my phone.

I can't 'uninstall' Facebook on my android phone, it came pre-installed with my phone. -- UGH!

[GaussTek]

I can't 'uninstall' Facebook on my android phone, it came pre-installed with my phone. -- UGH!

Yeah, mine too.

I cannot even move it to the SD card (or don't know how... yes, my phone is rooted!).

My phone internal memory is so low, 13 MB of wasted space

[msanchez]

Which phones do you have Gary? Maybe you'd like to check around in XDA for instructions on how to root them (The amount of android phones that can't be rooted is extremely limited, at least when speaking of the bigger manufacturers). If the carriers had their way they'd be forcing facebook, twitter, linkedin, etc, etc, etc down my throat. All I can say is long live Cyanogen (from cyanogenmod fame).

@gauss

If you are rooted, just mount /system as writable, navigate to /system/app and look for the facebook apk, delete that garbage.

[GaussTek]

@gauss

If you are rooted, just mount /system as writable, navigate to /system/app and look for the facebook apk, delete that garbage.

Yeah, figured it out. Thanks! Got ride of it, at last!

[msanchez]

Yeah, figured it out. Thanks! Got ride of it, at last!

Nice... we all deserve to have a say in what applications we run in our phones