Find My Friends is an application that is developed by apple and is accessible through iOS on their customers’ iPhones as well as on the web with iCloud. The application requires iOS 5 and allows users to find people they know by using the geolocating device on their iOS devices. When the application is used the user can access a worldwide map just as if they were using the map application on their iPhone. Every time they open the map they can press the refresh button and the location of all their friends is sent directly to their iPhone and appears on the map, no matter where they are in the world. The location pin point is within a 10 foot radius of their actual iPhone.
The application allows people to share their location with anyone in their address book, either indefinitely or for a short time period. This location becomes very useful for people when they want to keep track of their family members or friends to insure safety. It also makes it easier when picking someone up from somewhere. The security aspect is probably the most important problem that the application is trying to solve. Parents are able to track their children and make sure nothing happens to them. People can find friends when they are in trouble or lost. It can also be used to find the iPhone if it is lost.
http://www.macworld.com/article/1162969/apple_releases_find_my_friends_for_ios.html
I think that this app is an amazing idea but could cause problems with some friends. For example, if someone were to turn off their phone it would take away their location. Most people would only turn off their phone when they are trying to hide their location. This could lead to people questioning where people were while their phone was off. This basically just makes it nearly impossible to be completely off the grid. Is an awesome idea for the reasons you listed but could definitely cause an assortment of problems.
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