Yes, it’s that time once again, folks — time for the Friday Poll ! This week we want to get a sense of how Mashable readers are reacting to all the services and features coming online that allow us to share our location information, from Foursquare, Gowalla, and Loopt to geolocation features in services like Twitter and Google Buzz. With sites like Please Rob Me springing up to remind us all of the potential perils that might befall us as we start broadcasting our locations publicly and semi-publicly, it’s a good time to take stock of where Mashable readers fall on the spectrum. Are you worried about how location check-in services could impact your privacy and safety? Or do you think there’s enough utility to offset some potential concern? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! Mashable Answers Adam Ostrow : They do a bit — while we haven’t yet seen many stories of check-ins leading to trouble (stalking, robberies of your empty home, etc.), you’re kidding yourself if you don’t think it eventually will be an issue. Ultimately, I think you need to either be selective of who you share your location with, or only share your location when it makes sense to do so and you’re comfortable with who’s aware of it. In the long-run, broadcasting your whereabouts to the public at-large all the time could make you a target. However, I do use Foursquare and think there’s plenty of value in some aspects of it, like being able to see who’s at the same events as you. Ben Parr : Nope: You have control over where you check in and who your friends are. Sharon Feder : Absolutely. I think they’re wonderful but pose a safety risk for those who broadcast their check-ins publicly. For that reason, I only friend people I know in real life and don’t syndicate my check-ins to sites like Twitter where my updates are public. Jennifer Van Grove : Absolutely not. I only share my location publicly when I’m OK with being found, plus I limit my Foursquare friends to people I trust. Christina

Warren : It would only freak me out if I didn’t have control over how it was published and who was notified. In other words, Foursquare, Gowalla, Loopt, no. But if Facebook tried to do it, yeah, I’d be freaked, because you know they’d default broadcast it to everyone under the sun and probably feed the results to Google. Brenna Ehrlich : Not really. I mean, I don’t really use Foursquare that often, and when I do it’s for my blog. In that case, my co-blogger and I just check in when we’re hanging out together in a public place like a bar or a performance venue. I don’t think I would check in to the same coffee shop every day or anything, but then anyone who knows me well knows I’ll be there every day at the same time, anyway. Matt Silverman : I don’t currently use any location-based social networks, but I know there are enough features and settings on most of them for a smart user to protect him/herself. As with all social networks, you should always be aware and in control of who can see what you’re posting. If you’re concerned, do that extra bit of homework! Barb Dybwad : It’s definitely logical to be concerned and mindful about these services as more and more come online, and especially as we add complex interconnections between our various broadcast services. Overall I’m probably less freaked out about the “someone might rob me” aspect because me checking in somewhere doesn’t necessarily mean no one’s home — I’m more concerned about the “Big Brother” effect of what happens when a company like Google for example that already knows so much about me can potentially add positional data about me too via Buzz Mobile. Image courtesy of iStockphoto , ericsphotography Reviews: Facebook , Foursquare , Google , Gowalla , Mashable , Twitter , iStockphoto Tags: check-ins , foursquare , google buzz , gowalla , location , loopt , lunchtime poll , poll , polls , twitter

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Friday Poll: Do Location Check-In Services Freak You Out?