Let me be perfectly clear, don’t go to Chipotle for the food this time. Go for your Facebook account.
Facebook finally did something that changed an actual action in the real world. They got me a free burrito.
That’s right, no more “friending,” no more instant messaging, no more digital displays of affection through mindless button clicking – just raw, real-life improvement.
With the new Facebook app for iPhone, patrons can more easily use their “Places” feature. “Places,” which was previously banished to a background grid of features has been promoted to the home screen of the app, living in the top right corner of the screen.
For the average Facebook user “checking-in” is probably Facebook’s least interesting feature. But a new trend is catching on as people are beginning to see the value of advertising their location.
Foursquare, an app dedicated entirely to “checking-in,” has even made a half-dozen of my fellow fraternity brothers fight over who will be the new “Mayor” (or the most “checked-in” individual at a given location) of our house.
The process of "checking-in" is simple. Go to any landmark location or store, open up Facebook or Foursquare and your phone will automatically find popular destinations around your location. Tap the “check-in” button for the store you’re in and its done.
Not impressed? Neither was I, until I went to Chipotle.
The app remodel added the ability to offer patrons real-time coupon offers based off publicizing their presence at a local establishment.When I went to check-in at Chipotle today, I found myself face-to-face with this new option. A small yellow box offered me this deal:
“Buy-one-get-one-free Burrito, Bowl, Salad or Tacos. Present screen to cashier. For 1 use only. Expires at12:22 a.m.”It was awesome. Moreover, it further opened my eyes to a trend that is gaining traction and popularity.
More and more, our devices will know where we are and why we’re there.
Ranging from maps of museums being downloaded directly to your mobile device as you enter, to getting deals in-line at Chipotle, our devices will begin to work more and more with the world we interact with.
Case in point: Google Goggles (a built in feature in the Google application) allows users to take photos of what’s in front of them. The search engine actively analyzes the image and makes a Google search based off the brands, logos, landmarks or text that it reads in the image.
Another example comes from our digital aviary curators, Twitter. Say you ordered a pair of shoes like a friend of mine did, but they came in the mail with a defect.
Like my friend did, go ahead and Tweet at Vans that your kicks are all out of whack and they’ll respond to your customer service request within 24 hours. Stories coming from sandwich shops, shoe companies even news stations are showing that more companies are using Twitter as a real-time interaction with their customers.
Ultimately, this shift in functionality lets you take what you personally interact with and nearly instantaneously transform it into supporting digital information, totally optimized for your use.
Online communities expert Karen North put it best this way:
“The reason why people believe Facebook will survive, is because they use it as a utility,” said North.Users around the world are realizing that Facebook will serve to enhance their lives outside of Facebook. To announce where you are and what you are doing can now do wonders for your own satisfaction.
Where privacy was once a problem, the opposite is being realized as an opportunity.
So next time you find yourself debating whether or not to “check-in,” give it a shot – it may just get you a free burrito, or more.
Enjoyed this one more than your political ones.
ReplyDelete-bafshar
Duly noted...
ReplyDeleteI have to be honest and say that I don't know if my personal privacy is worth expending for a burrito. I mean, there is something unsettling to me about making my exact location known to some complete Chipotle stranger. There's got to be a catch...Spam mail....A way for government officials to spy on you.....or a way for a hacker to find out you're not at home and rob you blind while you're eating a burrito?!? When it comes to technology, I'm a glass half full kind of person. But, in this case, I think i'll stick to my blackberry and my incognito lifestyle. The burrito just wouldn't sit well. : )
ReplyDeleteI would rather keep my privacy than get a free burrito. This "checking in" app is quite annoying to the majority of people who do not use it. Who cares if you "checked in" to THH201 or whatever. With all of the status updates and tweets out there, how much more information about an individual's whereabouts is necessary?
ReplyDeleteExtremely interesting post...Also, I find that you have a great writing style here. Anyway, I really feel Facebook is going to change the internet and even life as we know it, as they already have to some extent.
ReplyDeleteOn the issue of checking in, it is really cool that this can yield rewards, but I'm guessing this is a way for them to obtain consumer information and use it to advertise or sell to others. It's a whole different world we are going into, it will be interesting to see where this is headed.