This sound familiar? Facebook users are lashing out at the social networking behemoth for new features that, they grumble, cross the line and trample on their privacy. This time the evil enemy, for some privacy-challenged users, is none other than Facebook Places, the much hyped location-based service just launched to take on Google, Foursquare and others.

In the economic downturn, companies are doing everything possible to simultaneously cut costs and build a loyal customer base around their brands. The automotive sector has led the way in this, as it was forced to overcome the the two-pronged assault of a struggling economy and ongoing pressure from the eco-lobby. As we reported last month, electronic car companies like Tesla Motors are taking brand building to social networks to help build grassroots excitement around the new technology, and Ford ditched the traditional closed-door auto show for the release of the 2011 Explorer, which proved to be good for customer reach and cutting costs.

“Location” has become the new keyword over the past few months with the rise of geo-based sharing services, most notably Foursquare. But many observers are skeptical, and a new report by Forester Research has everyone wondering: if they build it, will users actually end up checking-in? We think they will.

One of the world’s favorite clothing suppliers, Zara, will finally open its sales to online customers next week. Granted, the company is behind its biggest competitors, like Gap and H&M, by several years, but Zara has a secret weapon – a Facebook fan page of 4.5 million people could make the transition to online sales a walk in the park.

Here’s a story to get you up in the morning. Playboy has launched a “Miss Social” contest that gives Facebook fans the power to undress the next picture-perfect girl for an upcoming issue. Seeing naked girls? What’s not to “Like”? Right? Well, no so fast. Judging by the underwhelming early response, we’ve seen more panting over a Frappuccino.