Endless Thread Find Our Friends
18 snips
Apr 25, 2025 Discover how the Find My app has transformed from a privacy concern to a social media tool among friends. Explore hilarious personal stories about college life and the ethical dilemmas of tracking friends. Uncover the evolution of location-based services, from the early days of Dodgeball to the practicality of modern apps. Delve into the balance of safety, privacy, and connection in our digital relationships, all while celebrating the community and belonging nurtured by sharing our whereabouts.
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College Location Sharing Origins
- James and his college housemates started sharing locations to find lost phones but soon it grew socially.
- A drinking game increased the list of people who could see each other's locations to 40-50 and some remain to this day.
Dodgeball and Magic Maps
- The idea for Dodgeball was inspired by Hogwarts' Marauder's Map showing everyone's locations.
- It aimed to create serendipity by broadcasting a person's location to friends for spontaneous meetups.
Modern Use of Find My
- Grace uses Find My Friends differently now, like Dodgeball, to make spontaneous social plans.
- She values the app for visualizing her community geographically, like watching her 'little ants.'
