Facebook is getting rid of some location-tracking features due to ‘low usage’

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Several services that tracked your real-time location, including Nearby Friends, weather alert, location history, and background location, are being discontinued due to low usage. In a notification sent to people who have used the feature in the past, Facebook says it will stop collecting data on May 31st and will wipe any stored data on August 1st.

Meta confirmed the news to The Verge, saying that they are deprecating some location-based features on Facebook due to low usage.

This doesn't mean that Facebook will stop collecting location data. As stated in its note to users, Facebook will continue to collect location information for other experiences to serve up relevant ads and location check-ins in line with its data policy. The platform's settings and privacy menu allow you to view, download, or remove location data. On August 1st, Facebook will remove any data related to discontinued services.

I don't think many of us will be sad to see these features go. It doesn't seem like a lot of people are using Facebook for weather information. The Nearby Friends feature allowed the Facebook app to share your real-time location with your friends, and also to arrange in-person hangouts with people near you. Its popularity waned after similar features, like Apple's Find My Friends, took hold.

It is more of a relief that Facebook is getting rid of these location-based features because it doesn't have the best track record when it comes to keeping users' data secure. After a report that revealed Facebook tracked users if they made a credible threat, the social network started letting users on the phone turn off background location tracking. Users can turn off location tracking for specific apps.

You can read the full message here.

Because you’ve previously used Nearby Friends, Weather alerts, Location History or Background Location, we’re letting you know that these products and features will no longer be available after May 31, 2022. Information you shared that was used for these experiences, including Location History and Background Location, will stop being collected after May 31, 2022, even if you have previously enabled them. Facebook will otherwise continue collecting location information for other experiences as described in our Data Policy.

Update your settings

You can update your current Location History and Background Location settings in the Facebook App until May 31, 2022. After this date, the settings will be disabled.

Accessing your Location History

If you want to view or delete your existing Location History, you can access your information and download your information before Aug 1, 2022. After this date, if you do nothing, your existing Location History information will be automatically deleted.