Facebook Inc (FB) Is Smarter Than You Think

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It can and all come together. It will.

Right now it may just seem creepy. Most people won’t opt in, and those that do may feel guilty about it. You’re no stalker. You’re just a Matt & Kim fan that enjoys some Korean BBQ with friends. Since you will only have the location data of friends that opt in, it’s not as if the potential interactions will come off as strange.

In time, the same people that have privacy concerns will come around. If it makes an experience better, cheaper, or more convenient, it’s going to win.

Facebook doesn’t have a choice.

Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is becoming a bigger competitor. Yes, Google Plus hasn’t eaten into Facebook’s popularity, but Google already has strength in mobile (through Android), local lead generation (through Google AdWords), and venue reviews (through recent acquisitions of Zagat and Frommer’s). Facebook’s advantage over Google Plus is critical mass, and it can’t afford to squander that kind of opportunity.

Facebook has already changed the way we stay in touch with old friends, acquaintances, and family members. Now it’s on the cusp of revolutionizing an even meatier aspect of our lives. As long as Facebook can pull this off without coming off as creepy, it’s on to something here.

The article Facebook Is Smarter Than You Think originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Rick Aristotle Munarriz.

Longtime Fool contributor Rick Aristotle Munarriz has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Apple, Facebook, Google, and OpenTable. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple, Facebook, and Google.

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