Why I haven't deleted my Foursquare profile

I read an interesting post from a smart ex colleague (@fransgaard) today, which has prompted me to write my first post on this blog in 12 months! It made me consider my own personal digital ecology and indeed why I bother checking in with Foursquare. 

So here it is: why I haven't deleted my Foursquare account:

• It is utterly compelling, in a very strange childish way. Announcing where you are is much more interesting that a plain old status update.

• The scope of Foursquare as an opportunity has yet to be realised. The app plugins are limited, but will get better as geo tagging and location based networking gets more intelligent.

• I am expecting richer editorial content like Metro - adding reviews/tips to places I might want to visit or better still, happen to encounter while I am in the area. The smarter media brands will get involved more with Foursquare.

• It has a richer functionality than the Facebook checkin widget. But I agree with @fransgaard that sharing photos is a real downside. Although apps like Foodspotting are interesting and will develop.

• I think we have barely seen the start of location based networking. Retail shopping trends are changing fast with consumers sending photos of items in real time to get feedback on Facebook before they buy. This surely will develop with Foursquare as the host filter pointing coupons back to the user.

• Lastly, I like the to do list, just as much as the check in bit. Its handy to have a list of places you want to visit alongside places you have visited already.

More than anything it helps me remind me where I have been so I can recommend to other people how good the place was. A useful social log!

Of course its all about personal preferences. There is way too much noise to filter these days so, but I think, for now, Foursquare has it place.

Comments

[Fransgaard]

I am not saying FourSquare won't have anything to offer in the future, but there's been to much talk about what FourSquare will be/might do, but not much of it has become reality and no hints as to whether any will.

Essentially what you are describing is the FourSquare is a social game and a location-based game.

As a social game I think the value, the physic return is too weak. Try and compare it with the engagement of FarmVille, more action requiring less time... You could argue FourSquare is a social game based in reality with real value but again I'd say it looses out to other real-life social games such as Nectar points.

As a location-based game I think it looses out to the fantastic phenomenon that is Geo-caching. I don't geo-cache myself, but I have been on some "hunts" with a friend and it is amazing the hidden world it reveals in places I have been many many times before.

At the end of the day my article is less about FourSquare and more about a trend I see coming with people becoming more aware and precious about how they spend their time online and it will become harder and harder for new networks to enter the market... Let's be honest; do any of us really believe in a Facebook killer?