Location-based social networking

August 23, 2010 by Merlin

Foursquare in the Red Light District

Image source

With the ever rising usage of location-based social networking services like Foursquare, Gowalla and, a very recent newcomer, Facebook Places, our own behaviour could be changed in a subtle, but dramatic way. If you don’t think so, you should check out Seth Priebatsch’s short TED talk about a closing social decade and a coming gaming decade where our own behaviour will be directed, if not controled, with these kind of services.

The poster above does not promote adultery. It merely points out that our privacy and casual everyday organization could be coming to an end. I’ll leave you with two examples:

  1. If you live alone and publicly check-in 200km from your home, is your home empty and unattended?
  2. When you politely decline an invitation from your friend to a party because “you have some important work to do for tomorrow’s meeting” and then, without a second thought, check-in two hours later at the cinema, how will your friend feel about it? How will you feel about it?