Facebook Places Supplies Serendipity

Yesterday Facebook Launched Facebook Places.

I can already hear the worriers screaming about how terrible this is, because places is the ultimate stalkers tool.

But seriously.  Watch the video below.  When I did I thought of the millions of meetings that will take place serendipitously thanks to this new innovation.  I am not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.  I think places is a great thing.

This is not just a social innovation, but also a new way for businesses to reach out to customers in the immediate area.  Already foursquare facilitates special offers for it’s users with deals such as free lattes for foursquare mayors of certain Starbucks locations.

Once everyone has places, imagine how interaction will change.  The world will have another means become more social.  I think that this is the kind of “openness” that Mark Zuckerberg is talking about.  The kind that improves lives.

You might think that facebook places serves stalkers, but it is my position that this small risk is far outweighed by the immense value in the serendipity places will supply.

Here are some links about the new Places feature of facebook:

emarketer.com: The Advertising Opportunity in Facebook Places

mashable.com: A field guide to Facebook Places

techcrunch.com: The Facebook Effect: Foursquare Had Its Most Signups on the Launch Day of Places

Let me know what you think of facebook places in the comments below…

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