Can social media break down real world barriers?
I recently stumbled across ‘Like Ourselves’, an app that proclaims to help users ‘hang out with [their] type of people’. The basic premise is that you sign up to a number of groups that you see yourself belonging to. These groups are based on anything from your relationship status, your hobbies or whether you’re new in town.
Once you’ve signed up to some groups, you can then see how many members of your groups have checked into locations within a 20 mile radius. You then have the (slightly daunting) option of saying hi, or of seeing who has said hi to you. ‘Like Ourselves’ promises that by using this app, you’ll be around interesting people, every time you go out. It is very intriguing to see exactly how this translates into real world interaction; how willing would you be to walk up to a stranger in the street, even if you knew they were also interested in photography, rather than simply @reply to them on Twitter?
This app could be really useful for arranging meet ups with groups of people who have already interacted, such as a group of bloggers, but could it really help to break down real world barriers and assist in forging relationships based on the digital groups you join? Can social media, something that critics argue is causing a break down in real world interaction, actually help facilitate offline relationships?
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Hi,
I like Pardeeps explantion. It feels like http://www.meetup.com but intuitive. I can see it being popular with really with some people.
I like his vision of turning an offline space into a blurred offline/online one. I am using a few social networks in this way, more for networking.
As with Foursquare and Gowalla I can imagine backpackers, business travelers (I am green don’t travel much) and others using it.
Dara
Hi,
Thanks for this review. There are 2 important things to add.
1. The ‘hi’ function is built to take away fear. It’s a zero rejection button. The other person will only see your ‘hi’ if they’ve clicked ‘hi’ to you. It’s a bit like you both whispering to a third party, who you want to talk to and the third party only tells you both if you match.
2. We are building in a ‘here later’ feature + a chat function i.e. the ability to say where you will be at 8pm this evening, for example, and then you can chat to people (after you’ve clicked ‘hi’ to each other) before you get to the bar.
We will turn every bar / cafe / club into a social network before the night has begun. You’ll already know who you’ll meet, before you get there.
If you need any more information, fire off an email. We will be releasing the ‘here later’ feature this month and rebranding the site around it.
Thanks
Pardeep