I have become a fan of the location based app trend that is just beginning to gain some traction and is well on its way from being in the early adopter stage to mainstream. Go see Brent for a breakdown of a few.
Since there is some sort of competitive element that goes with them and more and more businesses that are rewarding users, I think it’s time we started a discussion about ethics.
Here are my proposals:
Don’t check in where you live
It never occurred to me to check in at home, but then I saw some people doing it. I don’t have a particular reason why you shouldn’t, other than the fact it’s dumb.
Don’t check in where you work
As businesses begin to offer rewards to the ‘leading’ users, it only makes sense. How can a restaurant offer a discount or special offer when the leading user on a given app is a waiter at the restaurant?
Connect with people in real life
Connect with the people who frequent the same spots as you, that’s the point of the whole thing isn’t it?
What other points need to be considered?
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#1 – Home. Yes. Yes. yes. Protect your home. Protect your family, friends and relatives that may not want to be a part of these apps. Let your home be your refuge.
#2 – Work. I understand this one. As businesses “reward” consistent patrons and new patrons, the employees should not be taking that honor away from them. However, I work at a church. And myself, as well as another Pastor on staff have been using the apps as a Twitter update on steroids. Event info, time and location with maps. I don’t see us using the “reward” feature as much, so I see us using check in’s for continued advertisement.
#3 – Contact. Yes. Yes. Yes again! Ive used these apps with that reason in mind. I want to know where people are eating and hanging out. I want to meet people that have similar interests. I also want to share with others whats going on where. Then I want to do life with them. Last week we went out with a couple we met on Foursquare. I posted about a BBQ joint. They’d never been, we invited them to go with and now he si going to be a sound tech at our church. They have not been in church for over 2 years. Love it!
As to other rules, I see people setting their own standards, but one may be…
Don’t wear Twitter and Facebook out with all your check ins. Sometimes they don’t care where you are, as much as why you are there or what you are doing there. Make your check ins count. Make them creative. Don’t just check in. I use a guide. If I would Twitter about what I am doing at a specific location I want others to know about. I use the location App and send my check in to Twitter. Check in as much as you want. Let your location app friends know every time you check in. But, limit the abuse of sending all these check ins to Twitter or Facebook.
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