Twitter Testing 'Nearby' Service to Show Users Local Tweets

It has been reported that micro-blogging site Twitter is testing a new service for its mobile app that provides users tweets of other nearby users, whether they follow them or not.

Alison Yin/The Wall Street Journal

Called "Nearby," the feature appears as a map of your location above a timeline of local tweets. So if you are wondering what band is playing down the road or why police cars are surrounding a house, you can use this service to see what other Twitter users in close proximity are posting.

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In addition to providing hyperlocal information, Nearby could also be used by local businesses, as a new way to market their services over social media to users around them in real time

Twitter's social efficacy combined with its latest local initiatives, including its recently launched cookies-based retargeted ads program could prove to be a powerful combination that resonates with marketers and consumers alike.

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Users have been able to add their location to their tweets since 2010 as an opt-in option that's turned off by default. That will likely be consistent for Nearby, so Twitter can continue to avoid privacy concerns that users' locations will automatically be attached to their posts without explicit consent.