The Ethics and Etiquette surrounding Foursquare checkins.

Posted by Bhavishya Kanjhan on Jun 1, 2010 in Default | 2 comments

With every passing day I see the rise in the number of users jumping on the Foursquare bandwagon, and with that rise comes an increase in connections and an increase in the activity. I’ve been observing the growth in Foursquare activity and have noticed a lot of things that have got me thinking on what the ethics and etiquette surrounding this location based network are.

Given the competitive nature of Foursquare, it is natural for users, including those in Dubai to clock as many check-ins as possible . But how far should an individual go in this endless quest for points, badges and mayorship.

The mundane everyday check in.

Most users, during weekdays, only really go from home to work and back. Does it make sense for them to check in at both those places then? There are those who bring a privacy element to this, but this isn’t about that. It’s the sheer inanity of these checkins. Although there are those who say checking into work helps ‘brand’ the place.

Couples: Checking in in pairs.

Much like offline (*gasp*) social networks, couples in which both partners are online have a huge set of connections that are common to both of them. If they spend all their time together, at the same places do they both check in? Sure, they’re both individuals with their own accounts right, I mean as long as they aren’t quarrelling for mayorship. Or is it similar to a situation where a couple gets, well, couply, on Facebook. We’ve all had those friends right?

The compulsive Geonetworker

Imagine you go into a mall for a shopping spree, do you just check in to the mall? Or do you check in to the mall and then check in to every single store you go to. Given the loyalty building objective of Foursquare for businesses, they would promote the latter. And the users gain their badges and mayorship. But this scenario does have an inexplicable sense of the ridiculous too. After all, walking less than 5 metres to the next store doesn’t really count for ‘Travel’ in ‘Travel Bonus’ right?

Exhibit B: if you scan for venues and you find the venue, only misspelt; do you check in to that anyway or do you add a new venue with the corrected spelling fully well knowing you’ll get the extra 5 points for adding a new venue (and a chance at mayorship)?

I’m not passing judgements here, nor am I saying what’s right or wrong. I myself have been  guilty of some of those actions listed above and continue to practice the others.

Given the competitive spirit underpinning the platform, where do you think the boundaries of fairplay end and those of cheating begin?

Geonetworking – the new Mantra in Social Media Marketing in Travel and Tourism

Posted by Bhavishya Kanjhan on May 30, 2010 in Default | 0 comments

I discuss the use of GeoNetworking by businesses and institutions in Travel and Tourism industry to promote tourism in the newest edition of Travel and Tourism news.

“Platforms like Facebook and Twitter have taken relationship marketing and permission marketing to a whole new level. But don’t blink yet, the next step in social networking and media is already here and it is telling you where to go and who to meet.”

Read the entire article here on the Travel and Tourism news website

Geo-Networking as the next step in Social Networks

Posted by Bhavishya Kanjhan on Mar 29, 2010 in Default | 1 comment

I discuss Geo-Networking, Location Based Networking and FourSquare in an Opinion Piece in Emirates Business 24/7

“…’social’ networks were making us anything but social, at least in the traditional definition of the word. However, the advent of geo-networking or location-based networking looks to change that with services that let users interact based on their physical location at a given time.”

Read the entire article on the Emirates Business 24/7 website