FourSquare is a mobile/geolocation/social-network/meetup app that allows people to post their current locations to their friends—OR, it’s a great way to get into trouble.

Or both.

Ron Davis, blogger and InternetSafety.com employee, quickly found that the social app could very easily lead people to sharing more information than would be safe or sensible. After receiving a friend invite from a fellow gym-goer, Ron realizes that he has more access than to her information than he or anyone else should. Even though FourSquare does involve breaking down the privacy wall in its core functions, a few adjustments can keep the important parts of that wall intact:

• Limit foursquare friends to people you know and trust. If you wouldn’t give them a spare key to your home, you probably don’t want them to be able to locate you at will.
• Don’t check in at work. It would be really easy to figure out where someone works if they check in there at the same time every day.
• Opt out of information sharing. Foursquare will only give your phone number and email address if you tell them it’s ok to do so.  You’re opted in by default, but unchecking that box is something you really should consider.
• Don’t use foursquare. Give serious consideration to whether it’s a good idea to have your real, physical location broadcast on a regular basis.

Thanks to Ron at moreron.com for some salient Internet safety advice for us adults.

Filed under: Internet Safety News