Foursquare is an emerging social networks that is designed for mobile devices. This makes Foursquare very popular especially for the current generation of mobile phone users.
The network allows people to make suggestions and recommendations about specific locations. Basically it allows you to see where your friends are. It is a little bit of Google mixed with Facebook and Twitter.
The game is based around “checking-in.” When you check-in, you tell your location and a brief message about what you are doing, and then the system registers what you are doing. Your friends will get your message that lets them know what you are doing, so if they decide to join you they can. It also has two features where you can create a to-do list of places you have always wanted to go and a Top 12 list of recommendations for others. 
The person who checks-in more than others at the same location can become the “mayor” or gain other honors with badges.
This is a great tool for businesses, especially local businesses. People will be discussing their business and it is immediately being sent to other friends. While some sites, like Facebook, allow communication with others, Foursquare is unique in that it uses first person communication with others. The benefits are obvious and good for businesses.
However, consumers may find this to be a privacy issue. They may not want other people knowing everything they do every hour. It is a fun type of social networking site that utilizes the one-on-one communication aspect. This can also get to be an annoyance over time for others who like the game but do not want their daily activities sent as a message to every one of their friends.
Foursquare and other location-based services are great and fun for users as long as they are used appropriately.
I agree with what you said about Foursqaure being a privacy issue. I know for a fact I would not want people knowing where I am every hour. But on the other end, it is a great tool for businesses, and can only help communication in the long run. One really cool thing about Foursquare is that it offers a Top 12 list of recommendations. I did not know that and that will be effective for someone to use if traveling or ever visiting somewhere they have never been.
By: micaelacarter on March 4, 2010
at 9:42 pm
[...] http://zta0621.wordpress.com/2010/02/25/foursqaure/#comment-15 [...]
By: Blog Comments « Micaela Starr Carter on March 4, 2010
at 10:34 pm
I liked that you said Foursquare is Google mixed with Facebook and Twitter, that is a really good point. I don’t have Internet on my phone, but if I did, I wouldn’t join Foursquare. I don’t know anyone that uses it and if I really wanted someone to know where I was and what I was doing, I would make it a point to let them know personally. I think it is a good tool for businesses and local community places to gain popularity through word-of-mouth, but I think the application is just another silly social media fad that is not necessary. It is a simple form of free advertising for companies and I can see why they would want to use it. I am still kind of confused about what you do on Foursquare but I will never use it so oh well.
By: laur22 on March 29, 2010
at 4:41 pm
Yeah I am not quite sure how it would work. I think it may be a fun game, but that is about it. There are so many privacy of issues with Foursquare. I would not want people knowing my every move of the day. I am already very cautious about putting information on other sites, such as Facebook. I know that there are weird people that do not need to know everything about my life that I barely know. I do not even want my friends to know everything that I am doing. I definitely agree with you about the fad and I do not think it would last long at all.
By: Brittany Maree on April 17, 2010
at 1:54 am
[...] Foursquare [...]
By: Blogging Samples | Britt0621's Blog on April 28, 2010
at 1:49 am