Foursquare – Is it Just a Great Big Hassle?
I have been trying to get into this whole Foursquare thing for several months. I have read countless times how it is the next Twitter and will be the next big thing. As much as I try to get hooked on it, I seem to be having trouble.
First of all why does anyone care where I am at any give time? Seriously, is it really that important? I can see how this might be attractive to some college kids, who run in large groups. You could follow your friends and know where they are hanging out, I guess. However, couldn’t you do that just as easily on Twitter. Why do we need another program to have to manage?
I completely understand the whole idea behind Foursquare and their arch rival Gowalla, and I really want to like them. After all I try to be a cool tech guy and stay up with all the latest trends. What a great idea! Create a location based micro blog that has gaming aspects too it. Then allow retaurants, hotels and other businesses use it to promote there business. It all makes good business sense. However, I still feel like it is too forced. Something about it isn’t natural to me.
I already update my Facebook and Twitter what seems like hundreds of times a day, now I have to remember to check in every time I go anywhere. Do I check in at work? At home? What good does that do me? I guess it gets me points or badges or whatever, but I don’t get any discounts at these locations. If I am at home and then leave, do I check back in when I return? It just seems like and awful lot of work.
Now there are some places where I would like to check in, especially ones that will give me discounts or a bonus of some sort. I will probably remember to check in there, but for Foursquare to be really effective, don’t they need people to check in all day as they go throughout their routine?
I believe the major difference between these services and Facebook or Twitter is you feel like you HAVE to do it. When I decide to update my status on Facebook, or I want to send out a tweet, I do it because I want to. I do it at my own convenience, when I have time, and a good thought to share. However, with Foursquare, I have to do it when I am at a location. It seems more of a to-do item then a fun thing to do.
I know we are still in the early stages of these programs and I am sure new enhancements are on the way. As for now, I will continue to try each of these services and see how I can fit them into to my social networking routine. Maybe when I become the Mayor of Fry’s it will all be worth it.
Sorry, I’m already working on the Fry’s mayorship! Haha.
I really like Foursquare. I like getting points, competing with friends, and checking it at places only to find that people I know are there!
For Foursquare to be powerful, more people do need to use it. For instance, if you have friends that are checking it at SXSW, click on the venue to see that 43 other people are all there at the same time. THAT is pretty darn cool, don’t ya think?
But, I do forget to check-in when I go to Trader Joe’s or the movies or to a bar. Does it matter? Not really. Unless I know I’ll get a 10% discount every time I do check in.
Sara,
I could see where it would be cool when you have a huge group especially if you were somewhere like SXSW, but couldn’t I just do the same thing with Twitter?
Do you find it at all cumbersome to have so many friends already on twitter and then having to reconnect with them on foursquare. I don’t know, maybe I will learn to love it, but right now it seems like too much work.
I don’t remember to use it all the time, but I’m thinking about using for my guests at the restaurants. The only problem there’s about 5 people in Indiana using foursquare and we’re two of ‘em.
Peace out brother!