Oh Foursquare, a stalkers paradise really. But seriously, Foursquare is a service where you can “check in” to places. Facebook, Google +, and many other sites offer this feature. Foursquare just seemed where all the “cool kids” were. That was on of the reasons I joined.

Life went on, I would check into pretty much any place I went to. Starbucks, target, grocery stores. One place that I would never I mean never check into was my house! It just seemed insane, why would you ever let someone online let you know where you currently live?

After awhile of using Foursquare and reading an article on Lockergnome. Foursquare felt like a creepy service. I mean really, why would I want people to know exactly where I was at any given point in time?  It was just kind of scary. Not only that but its not only that people know where are, but where you are not!

Using Foursquare everyday of my life (almost). Over and over I kept having these thoughts. Is it necessary to have all my Twitter followers and Facebook friends know exactly where I am all the time? Do I benefit from using Foursquare? or is it just a waste of time?

Ultimately the answer was no (and yes, to all of them). Foursquare did not benefit me, people didn’t need to know where I was ALL the time, and pretty much was a waste of time.

 

What Did I Gain from using Foursquare’s service? 

Absolutely nothing… Yes of course, some companies would give you something for checking in at their location. Just a little while ago, I checked into a CVS and got entered to win a $100 gift-card. Honestly, why the hell would I want to spend 100 at CVS? But still it’s the thought that counts, I guess.

There were also badges, achievements, and you could become the mayor of a place (whatever the heck that gets you). Those where things I really didn’t care about. Really, who is going to care that I am the mayor of a Starbucks? Does it get me a free coffee? Nope…

 

Was it Necessary For People To Know Where I was, ALL THE TIME?

I had my Foursquare account connected to my Facebook and Twitter. I would always think about disconnecting Foursquare check-ins from Twitter. Why? Because people on Facebook, where people I knew on a more personal level.

 

When I left the house, ya’ll would know…

Ok here’s the thing, like I mentioned in this post earlier, I never check into my house. This is the most UNsafest’s things todo. Check into your own home online. Do you realize anyone can have access to that information? So any person who finds that, now know’s where you live! Think about how scary that is, AND you put it all out there!

 

You Not Only Know Where, But Where I’m Not! 

Yes, I mentioned this in the video. When I check into a location on Foursquare. You know where I currently am. Now here is another reason not to check-into your home. You know where I live, so say I checked-into a Walmart. You know where im an, AND you know that my house could be vacant. So anyone could break in.

And that’s why I deleted my Foursquare account…

 

Here is what Chris Pirillo thinks :)

  • Anonymous

    Just a point to consider…if you read Foursquare’s website you would see that when you set up your home on Foursquare they not only block the address from being seen but it doesn’t even show up on any list of nearby places when somebody is in the vicinity of your home. The only person that sees the info on your home is you. Your friends can see that you are checked into your home but still don’t see the address and if they are your friends the chances are they would know your address anyways. There is no risk of your home being robbed as a result of a Foursquare check-in unless the person that robs you is a personal friend.

  • http://twitter.com/TechW0RLD TechW0RLD

    I Agree