Facebook’s iOS app will start recommending nearby places to you

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Facebook's getting place recommendations. Photo: Cult of Mac
Facebook's getting place recommendations. Photo: Cult of Mac

Facebook has been trying to go after Foursquare’s slice of the geolocation pie for a while now, and a new update to Facebook’s iOS app doubles down on that policy, providing Foursquare-style recommendations for places to visit in your area, based upon the suggestion of friends.

https://vimeo.com/118099966

The new feature is called “Place Tips” and it will show you posts and photos from friends who have shared at the location you are currently visiting. For example, if you were walking by a cupcake store a friend has recommended in the past, Place Tips would pop up, telling you that your friend often goes there.

Here’s how Facebook describes the new feature:

From friends’ recommendations to information about the places and things that interest you, Facebook helps you connect with the world around you. To better show you this content at just the right place and time, today we’re launching a new feature called place tips. Place tips will show you fun, useful and relevant info about the place you’re at. Tapping on place tips won’t post on Facebook or show anyone where you are.

The Place Tips feature is currently in testing in specific locations like New York, ahead of an eventual universal roll-out. If you live or are visiting one of those locations, though, a Place Tip may appear at the bottom of your news feed within the iOS Facebook app when you pass someplace your friends like.

It’s easy to see how Facebook intends to monetize this. Let’s just hope Place Tips does not become yet another ad that takes over our feeds.

Via: iPhone in Canada

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