The "Nearby Friends" feature on Facebook allowed you to see which of your connections were physically close by and share locations. But Facebook permanently removed this capability on June 1, 2022 across all platforms, due to privacy concerns.
In this 2200+ word guide, you‘ll learn exactly why Nearby Friends vanished, how it previously worked, and if there‘s any way to restore it (on Android). Let‘s dive in.
Why Facebook Discontinued the Nearby Friends Feature
Facebook disabled Nearby Friends as part of a wider effort to give users more control over their information. The change happened alongside three other location-based features being removed:
- Location History
- Background Location
- Weather Alerts
In a statement announcing the updates, Meta Chief Privacy Officer Michel Protti said:
"We believe location information provides useful functionality to users when it comes to things like maps, locating friends/businesses, and showing relevant ads. However, we recognize that some users may be surprised to learn that Facebook collects and stores location information."
Protti explained the company‘s goal is now to develop "personalized experiences without compromising user privacy."
According to Facebook, eliminating Nearby Friends and the other location features supports this privacy push. Users no longer have to share their location just to see which connections are nearby.
This aligns with a broader industry movement towards protecting user privacy and limiting location tracking.
Location Tracking Concerns on the Rise
Location data is highly sensitive – it can reveal where you live, work, your daily habits, what healthcare centers you visit, and more.
As awareness has grown surrounding the privacy risks of location tracking, tech companies have responded by scaling back features reliant on accessing user locations.
For example, Apple‘s iOS 14.5 update now requires apps to explicitly ask permission before tracking activity across other apps/sites.
Google also announced plans to block third-party tracking cookies in Chrome by 2023. This will limit advertisers‘ ability to track users across the web.
By removing Nearby Friends, Facebook joins the industry‘s shift towards enhanced privacy protections and reducing potential location tracking abuses.
How Facebook Technically Disabled Nearby Friends
On a technical level, Facebook likely removed Nearby Friends by simply deleting the code that powered the map-based location sharing functionality.
They probably also scrubbed any references to the feature in the app interfaces. So the option disappeared from settings, menus, etc.
Disabling Nearby Friends this way means that while legacy Facebook app versions may still work, all new installs lack the capability.
Since the code is gone, even if you managed to find a hidden reference to Nearby Friends, tapping it would likely crash the app or do nothing.
A Look Back at How Nearby Friends Worked
Before being discontinued, the Nearby Friends feature provided a way to opt-in to sharing your location on Facebook to see nearby connections. Here‘s how it worked:
Step 1) Enable Location Services
In your device settings, you first needed to allow Facebook access to your location data. Both iOS and Android have system-level toggles for controlling location access.
Step 2) Turn on Nearby Friends
After allowing location access, you could enable the Nearby Friends feature within Facebook:
- Tap the hamburger menu icon
- Select "Nearby Friends"
- Tap your profile icon
- Enable "Nearby Friends" in the settings
Step 3) View Nearby Friends Map
Once enabled, you could view a map showing the approximate locations of friends who also had Nearby Friends turned on:
Tapping a friend‘s icon revealed general info like the city they were in, but not precise coordinates. This allowed coordinating meetups while limiting visibility.
Mutual Opt-In Required
For privacy, Nearby Friends only worked when both parties expressly opted in to location sharing. If your friend disabled the feature, you couldn‘t view their location.
This mutual consent approach sought to prevent abuse and unwanted tracking. Still, some may have felt uneasy knowing it was even an option.
Is There Any Way to Restore Nearby Friends Now?
Unfortunately, the demise of Nearby Friends is seemingly permanent on iOS devices. There is no way to reactivate the feature on the latest iOS Facebook app.
However, for Android users, it is possible to temporarily regain Nearby Friends by installing an older version of the Facebook app with the feature still intact:
Downloading the Facebook APK
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Delete the Facebook app from your Android device.
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Visit this link and tap "Download APK".
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Once downloaded, open the APK file and tap "Install".
The first time, you may need to enable "Install from unknown sources" in your Android settings.
Using the Old Facebook Version
The dated Facebook app will allow you to re-enable Nearby Friends from the hamburger menu and view nearby people.
However, you won‘t be able to sign into the latest version if both are installed. This method merely provides temporary access for those wanting a nostalgia trip.
Long-term, using an outdated app with security holes is risky. You should delete it and return to the official version after revisiting Nearby Friends briefly.
Facebook‘s Values Shift Towards Privacy
Facebook built its empire on collecting data to serve hyper-targeted ads. But in the face of growing public concern, the company wants to show it now values privacy too.
Eliminating Nearby Friends is part of a string of privacy-centric changes:
- Debuted Privacy Checkup tool to manage settings
- Launched a Privacy Center explaining its philosophy
- Ended facial recognition tagging in photos
- Rebuilt ad system around less data
A 2021 Pew Research poll found 79% of US adults feel their location data is very/somewhat sensitive.
Given this, removing Nearby Friends may also be an effort by Facebook to regain public trust after years of privacy missteps.
Time will tell whether Facebook‘s privacy pivot is genuine or just window dressing. But for now, scaling back location tracking tools appears aligned with user expectations.
Alternatives for Finding Nearby Friends
While native Nearby Friends is gone, you still have options for coordinating in-person meetups with Facebook friends:
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Groups: Create a custom friend group for sharing locations.
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Events: Make event pages for meetups viewable only to certain connections.
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Messenger: Share locations temporarily in Messenger chats.
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Pages: Check-in to nearby business Pages to signal your location.
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Status updates: Post a status update saying you‘re "In City Name" if you want public visibility.
The key is being selective about who can view your location instead of passively broadcasting it widely via Nearby Friends.
Location Sharing Etiquette and Safety Tips
If you do opt to share your location via other Facebook features, keep these responsible practices in mind:
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Only share temporarily for coordinating meetups. Don‘t leave it on indefinitely.
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Be selective in who you share with. Never broadcast your location publicly.
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Meet first dates or strangers in public settings, not private homes.
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Consider sharing approximate area, not your precise GPS pins.
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Turn off location access when not needed to limit tracking.
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Use common sense safety precautions when meeting people based on location sharing.
Exercising caution helps maintain your privacy and safety even while using Facebook‘s remaining location tools.
Social Media Platforms and Location Sharing
Here‘s a comparison of how major social networks handle location sharing features today:
| Platform | Nearby Friends Capability |
|---|---|
| Removed 6/1/2022 | |
| Instagram (owned by Meta) | Removed 8/2022 |
| Snapchat | Snap Map requires friends to share back, temporary sharing only |
| No native location sharing features | |
| TikTok | Allows sharing location on posts |
As the table shows, location broadcasting abilities are becoming more limited across social apps, with mutual sharing requirements introduced for safety.
Conclusion
Facebook permanently discontinued Nearby Friends on all platforms on June 1, 2022 due to escalating privacy concerns around location data.
The feature allowed opting in to view nearby Facebook friends but was removed alongside Location History as the company shifts focus.
Android users can temporarily regain access via an old Facebook APK, but long-term the feature is gone as Facebook prioritizes user control. Alternatives like Groups remain for coordinating meetups.
Facebook joins tech giants like Apple and Google in limiting location tracking amidst growing data privacy awareness. While some may miss Nearby Friends, its removal gives users greater power over their sensitive location information.
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