After discussing Four Square and other "check-in" applications today in class, I wanted to go over the positive and negatives of the new social trend.
Positive: Of course the most positive aspect of the new trend is that it allows businesses to track the traffic in the stores and around the area. It helps zero in on your target market and reward your routine customers. It can also be another way for businesses to help drawl more customers to the area with deals and incentives. Checking-in has become so popular that it has its own applications called Four-Square plus a setting on the Facebook applications for smart phones.
Negative: I recently heard a story on the news that a women's home was broken into and the person charged with the crime admitted that he knew she wasn't home because she had recently checked-in somewhere on Facebook.
Checking-in applications is another way of keeping tabs on people, knowing their every move. This can be dangerous if put into the wrong hands. I don't usually check-in places on a daily basis because it freaks me out to know that hundreds of users are aware of what I’m doing.
This website gave some insight on the new social trend:
http://thereasoner.com/articles/are-online-check-ins-dangerous
I have a Four Square account but don't actively use it. Part of the reason is that I don't have enough friends that utilize the site and I tend to forget to "check in" places when I get there. If companies promoted their frequency programs that went along with checking in at their location I would be more apt to remember to check in using my Four Square app on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteI never really thought about the negative consequences of a site like Four Square. It would worry me that if someone saw that I checked in at a place across town, that they would see that as a prime opportunity to rob me or worse. If I decide to start using Four Square more regularly I should probably keep an eye on who has access to that information.
I think Four Square (and the like) has the potential to have a major effect on marketing at stores. It's just on the cusp of breaking in and I cannot wait to see where it goes from here.
I totally agree with what Hanna said. I would use something like Four Square if there were other people who I could connect with who also use it. I walked into Griffs tonight though and realized that they have a location based service set up and I really want to start using it now because I don't want to miss out on coupons for my favorite restaurants. Maybe if we start using it then our friends will, too. I find it really interesting (and is it bad that I think it's a little funny?) that someone's alibi is their "check-in." How strange.
ReplyDeleteI do not have an account with any location-based social media site other than the tool you can use with Facebook. I think I have only checked myself into a location on Facebook once. Maybe since I am not an active user of these location-based tools is the reason why I think they are kind of creepy. I personally see where checking-in and receiving incentives in return for checking in is beneficial, but there comes a point when your safety has to become a concern. I just do not know if I want everyone knowing where I am at all times.
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