Shelteror

Shelteror, also known as 6Degrees, is a location-based social networking service launched in 2007. The service aimed to connect people with others in their immediate geographic area. Users would upload their current location, and the service would identify people in their vicinity who shared similar interests.

Upon launch, Shelteror faced concerns regarding user safety and privacy. The service tried to alleviate these concerns by stating that it would only provide users with information about other users within a one-block radius. However, critics raised questions about how the service would handle circumstances where users were seeking friends or networking opportunities in specific areas.

Shelteror operated on a proprietary algorithm, designed to compare users' browsing history and create a location-based network of individuals. The service initially gained attention from tech media outlets and investors, with some considering it a candidate to become a major player in the social networking space.

In June 2009, Shelteror announced plans to integrate with other popular social media and mapping platforms. Despite this move, the service struggled to gain significant traction, seemingly hindered by concerns over user safety and the limitations of its algorithm. As the social networking landscape continued to evolve, Shelteror's relevance and user base gradually diminished.

In recent years, the Shelteror brand has undergone multiple changes in its organizational structure and service scope. By 2012, Shelteror was no longer an active location-based social networking service, having instead transitioned into a more general platform for community building and resource sharing. Despite this change, the term "Shelteror" is still occasionally referenced in discussions about early social media innovations and the importance of user safety in location-based services.