Facebook removed the option of sharing exact location in Nearby Friends. Instead, it enables users to send a friendly hello through a "wave."

Facebook used to allow users to share the exact location where they currently are to chosen friends. Users may even request it to their friends to know where their friends are. This option was beneficial in a sense that users were able to find it easy and convenient to meet up with their Facebook friends. This was before Facebook decided to remove and replace the feature.

According to an article reported by TechCrunch, the reason why Facebook has considered removing this kind of option is because Facebook, by nature, "is relatively privacy-safe for a location-sharing service." This becomes ironic with the location-sharing option being there. This is true especially when other people may have the intention to stalk someone without their knowledge.

Another reason from TechCrunch as to why Nearby Friends is problematic is that whenever other people see you located within their proximity, they will eventually conclude that you are available. That is basically the purpose of Nearby Friends. This has also been the problem of others regarding similar applications like Foursquare.

As a replacement to the discussed option, Facebook launched the "Wave" option for users to conveniently check out their friends and tell that they would want to know how their friends are doing without directly sending them a private message. At the same time, the "Wave" option is more interesting and fun compared to the previous location-sharing alternative. It makes interaction more active and symbolic.

This development tries to invalidate others' claim that what social media only does to people is making them induce passivity behind computer and mobile screens. With this option, it paves more ways for people to meet and interact in real life.