Grown Up Thinking

When I first downloaded Foursquare, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I mean, I’m already a Facebook and Twitter addict- how much more social media can a girl really need? Do my friends even care to know where I am at all times of the day? How often am I supposed to check in? Do I accept all friend requests or only people who I know? Do I really want complete strangers to know where I am?

After much thought, I came to the conclusion that everyone uses Foursquare for different purposes. Here are the five types of Foursquare users I have encountered:

The Cheater: Every Sunday night at 11:59pm EST the Foursquare leaderboard resets. Ever wake up on Monday morning and wonder how one of your friends already has 150 points? The truth is you probably need to get more honest friends, because this friend is a cheater.

The Hungry Tiger: Have any friends on Foursquare who check in at every single place they go- including every subway stop or convenience store? The friend may be classified as “The Hungry Tiger”, someone who can never get enough of Foursquare.

The Hot ‘n’ Cold: I have a few friends like this- those who can’t decide how they really feel about Foursquare. Sometimes they will check in and once they get a badge they quickly turn into The Hungry Tiger, but that rapidly slows down after about a week.

The Commitment-Phobe: This type of user (such as Melvin) has an account, but never uses it. Simple as that.

The Star Performer: This user in my opinion is the ideal Foursquare user. They check in at the appropriate places, such as restaurants and bars, yet refrain from checking in while simply purchasing a pack of gum at the deli across the street.

Given Foursquare’s rapid popularity, users are bound to encounter at least one of the above types. Some people even believe Foursquare could become the next Twitter. Keep your eyes open, folks- this is one social networking bus you won’t want to miss.

The holiday season is about spending time with family and friends, eating delicious high-calorie food, and reflecting on the previous year. Although Grammy and Grampa may be used to opening presents around the fire, it looks like Facebook may be changing that tradition. With over 60% of Facebook users over age 26 (including 12% over 45 years old) and 350 million users in total, it’s no surprise that Facebook was the most visited website this past Christmas.

According to web analytics company Hitwise, Facebook was the number one visited site on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. This is the first time in Facebook’s history that it has reached that number one spot.

Since the site started in 2004, Facebook has transitioned from a digital ‘hang out’ for college students to its own robust business, changing the way people and businesses communicate. The site has become a snapshot of personal digital archeology, logging every feeling, event and picture through status updates, events and media. Facebook is at the forefront of a larger societal shift in how we communicate and learn, and will continue to push for a more social and connected world.

Don’t be surprised this year when you log on to Facebook to wish your friends Happy Holidays and receive a Poke from dear, sweet Grammy herself.

One of my Twitter friends recently posted a great article by Xavier Lur, who is a 15 year old Singapore student and also the editor of TechXav. TechXav, a technology blog written by teens ranging from 11-15, was founded by Lur in 2009 and is great site which shares news and reviews on technology from a youth’s perspective.

The article that actually caught my attention was from July, but I found it too entertaining and impressive to not share. 30+ Funny & Weird Twitter Applications give us a application-by-application rundown of Twitter’s most entertaining (yet mostly useless) add-ons.  If you have a couple of minutes, I highly suggest you read through the entire list, but below you can find my favorite 4 apps taken from Lur’s list:

Track This lets you track your UPS, Fedex, USPS or DHL package via Twitter.  Each time the package changes locations, Track This will notify you of its whereabouts.  No more waiting by the door for the UPS guy to arrive!

Foamee is Twitter’s answer to online flirting.  That special someone will be notified that you have purchased them a drink, but the kicker is, you’ll have to actually meet up with them to redeem it.  The sender or receiver can then confirm they actually purchased/claimed the drink, so all of your Twitter friends can see you are a (wo)man of your word.

Overheard.it is a personal favorite of mine, as it reminds me of one of my favorite pre-Twitter/Foursquare websites, Overhead In New York. Users anonymously tweet about silly things overheard throughout their day.  Great for a giggle or to pass time waiting for the bus.

TwitterMosaic I find really fun (especially as my News Feed was recently flooded by “My Year in Status” posts).  It compiles a collage of all of your Twitter friends and lets you drop the picture onto mugs, t-shirts, bags, etc.  Next Christmas, Twitter Mosaic mouse pads for everyone!

Finally, my least favorite application.  But only because it thought I was a dude.

I’m looking forward to the extinction of the television commercial.

In a world where seriously bad TV ads are as common as seriously bad fake tans in an episode of MTV’s Jersey Shore, it can be challenging to take pride in a career in advertising.

Each time I turn on the TV or tune into Hulu, my pride is battered in 30-second increments. These are the ads when you try your best to imagine what the agency team said during the pitch meeting to convince the brand managers to buy their ideas. I marvel at the fact that someone, somewhere, in a position of authority said “yes, this is a good idea,” in response to some of these ads.

BUT there are those rare moments when I find proof that there are some people in this industry who are doing good work for the small screen.

I can say with confidence that for 60-seconds of 2009, I was truly delighted by what I saw sandwiched between segments of my favorite TV shows.

Half of that can be attributed to Hulu’s ad featuring Alex Baldwin and his evil plot to take over the world by “rotting” our brains with Hulu, which “beams TV shows directly into your portable computing devices…for free.”

We’re evil, and honest! Now that’s sarcasm you can take to the bank – love it. Textbook surprise and delight.

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When I graduated college, one of my main concerns was how I was going to be able to keep up with all of my friends and family. How would I ever find time in my super busy schedule to call or see all the people I used to have tons of time for? “Facebook Stalking” soon became the most resourceful way to keep tabs on the people in my life. Although e-stalking my friends was easy, I couldn’t help but wonder how social media sites would increase or decrease my social relationships with others in the real world. Why even pick up the phone to call a friend to ask how work is going, when you can see through their Facebook status that they just got promoted? Spend enough time online and before you know it you know everything about everyone, even those who you don’t know!

Some believe that an excess of social media can cause isolation from the real world, but a new study by Pew Internet and American Life Project suggests that social media users are just as social as those who are not frequent users. The study suggests that people who use social media to connect with others not only have a larger network of people to discuss with, but a more diverse network as well. The study claims social media users tend to be more involved in their communities, most likely because online networking raises awareness of events and opportunities they may not have heard about otherwise.

After reading the results of the study, I couldn’t agree more. Through Twitter and Facebook I have met a variety of amazing people from all different types of backgrounds. I guess it pays to be computer geek after all.

In a time where brands A, B and C are dipping their pen in the social media ink well, innovation is quickly becoming the key to online success for those who are willing to pave the way. Case-in-point: a new in-stream sales channel for Facebook that allows consumers to purchase their favorite products directly from their main feed. Dubbed “Off The Wall“, this new service brings products out of the catalog and lands them directly on Facebook- for all to see, share, comment, “Like”, and hopefully purchase. This also presents a new opportunity for companies to drive more traffic to their Facebook Fan Page by offering special promotions and discounts through Facebook as well as custom content for consumers.

This new service comes as no surprise, however, as Facebook continues its efforts to expand e-commerce on the site. “Off The Wall” satisfies consumers who are looking to brands and social networking sites to integrate their overall shopping experience. In addition to the existing ability to purchase Facebook Gifts, consumers will soon be able to use an online currency to buy and share music and other virtual products through Facebook.

One big step for social media, one giant plus for all of us.

As a recent transplant to New York, I haven’t fully embraced New England winters. Luckily, there’s an app that can keep you nice and toasty (and help you avoid a dreaded hat hair situation).

So how does it work? The Pocket Heater app warms your hands through “Patented Technology”—basically, it puts your iPhone’s battery and processor on turbo charge, causing it to overheat and become warm to the touch.

The app is a pretty nifty idea. And while I’m skeptical it may eventually cause my iPhone to self-destruct, it gets extra points for novelty (and for making me use the word ‘nifty’). Perhaps I’ll go rogue and leave my mittens at home tomorrow…

Dorthy.com, the ‘Dream Search Engine:’ The start of the year always has us rarin’ to go and conquer the world, but this delightful site allows do-gooders and dreamers to acquire relevant articles/photos/videos to help realize their goals, collaborative tools to connect with people who can help and sharing functionality. Seriously- lots of fun.

Appropriated Poster Campaign: brainchild of artist Sean Wolsey to use outdoor ads as a canvas to create a more meaningful, positive message.

TED Talk: enthnographer Stephana Broadbent talks about how the internet enables intimacy. Not all that new, but a must-watch for social media enthusiasts and brand managers alike.

LoveJingles.com: a “why in the hell didn’t I think of this” idea that has a Swedish musician writing customized jingles and creating videos to promote them. Almost as cool as Lo Fi Love Songs by Gretel Prinn (a perfect Valentine’s Gift, hrm?).