The latest in social media is the GPS-based mobile game/search application called Four Square. What Twitter is to “what’s happening”, Four Square is to “where are you”. This one is a little scary but I have to admit I am kind of hooked. The app allows you to connect with your friends and share your actual whereabouts. You also score points for checking in at places and adding places to the game. The points are meaningless but they create a sense of competition between not only you and your friends, but also you and others playing the game in your town.
What’s the purpose? Well, actually the game is tied to Google Maps and comes in handy when looking for venues near your current location especially when you don’t know exactly where they are. You just press your check-in button on the game and it populates a list of venues close to you. This assumes someone else has added the venue to the game. You can also add tips to a venue like “order the ribs at Bates City BBQ” or “don’t get your oil changed at Joe’s auto…it’s a rip off.”
Four square is definitely an application to watch. It combines the attributes of mobile, social and search media which is definitely in the “what’s next” column of emerging media. If you are a business it is to your benefit to add your location(s) to the game. If you are a player…be careful who you add as friends and what information you share. Keep an eye on this one!