What takes a social forum, like Facebook, from an outlet for college students to meet up, hook up, and measure their “coolness” based on a specific number of friends – to a forum that enabled a group of Egyptian rebels to take down their government? The answer: communication. Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, although not originally invented for political uses, act as a vehicle for political communication because of the ease with which they allow anyone to communicate with anyone else. Further, the number of mediums through which people can express themselves within these forums, such as links, posts, photos, etc increases with everyday. But these forums are built on the idea of creating and enriching a digital identity for oneself, and communicating with an increasing number of people is at the core of “acceptance” in this digital society. Thus, for politicians and their supporters it is essential that they succeed in these media, and reach as many people as possible with their digital identity. Many people respond to politicians’ Twitter accounts, Facebook pages and YouTube clips because they believe their digital image can have an impact, and that it is important that they correlate their digital identity with different political beliefs and candidates.
On a more obvious level, these forums bring together an enormous number of unrelated individuals from all over the world with extraordinary efficiency. But what about this idea of no boundaries – the concept that there is no barrier to anyone joining these groups or viewing these pages? Facebook, something that was created to form exclusive and elite groups, is now one of the most inclusive forums in the world. Although political campaigns and Egyptian rebel media forums (like Facebook and Twitter) are directed at a certain group of people in a specific geographical area – their beliefs and information are on display for everyone in the world, allowing anyone to join. Thus, even though these campaigns and groups are directed at a certain niche, there is still a level of artificiality in the fact that anyone can support, critique, comment, abuse, and replicate any of these geographically focused forums. It is plausible that the future will hold a shrinking world of media where there is a physical border and filter created by one’s location and surrounding radius. People will not be excluded because of things like political views or lifestyle choices, but because of where (physically) they are using an application. One can foresee a new era of location-based communication.
The movement towards geographic based media forums is most apparent in the app world. For instance, three new attempts at location-based interactions, MessageParty, Color and Geo-blogging, provide a look into the struggles and triumphs of these future forums. The original purpose of MessageParty was to create a chat room for users in a general geographic vicinity. Individuals generally choose to remain anonymous, and thus MessageParty could provide a forum for complete strangers, sometimes with nothing in common other than the same bus stop, to partake in conversation about whatever interests them at that moment. The homepage points out that some everyday uses for MessageParty could include telling a secret, writing a poem, sharing a link or finding a bathroom. The app Color also provides a forum for complete strangers to share experiences and important moments, but instead of exchanging conversation Color exchanges photos between strangers in the same general vicinity. Color advertises that it allows participants to “simultaneously use multiple iPhones and Androids to capture photos, videos, and conversations in a group album. There’s no attaching, uploading, or friending to do.” The goal of Color is to create a photo album from the images generated from one’s own photos and those taken by others, thereby exposing viewers to new people and sights in one’s vicinity. For example, even if I am in the nosebleed section of a Lady Gaga concert with my mom and dad (ugh), Color can provide me with photos taken by others at the concert that make me feel like I am front row hanging out with the cool kids (that don’t go to Lady Gaga concerts with their parents.)
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Although color has around $40 million in funding, it and MessageParty have struggled because users of the applications simply can’t find other users. Nothing is worse than putting one’s photos out on display or sending out a chat message and receiving no response. These apps rely heavily on having a robust group of users, but are still struggling to pin down that very first group that would likely lead to a steady growth of users. Their success might also be impeded by the likelihood that some people have reluctance chatting with, or revealing photos to, complete strangers in the vicinity even if there is theoretical anonymity. In my opinion, these apps must go to great lengths to develop an initial group of loyal users, even if they must resort to a dramatic increase in advertising or free trials. Once a critical core of people become more comfortable with the idea of interacting with strangers we may be on our way to a new chapter in social media of focused on location based communication.
The Geo-blogging updated version of Message-party is anticipated to be more successful but also less personal. Geo-blogging is similar to blogging in that it takes a collection of media (links, photos, stories, notes etc) and assigns it to a specific location rather than assigning it to a specific person. Upon opening the app, one can immediately see what messages have been posted in that their geographic area. Having spoken with one of the creators of MessageParty and Geo-blogging (Jason Gavris), there is more hope for this app because it is not so heavily reliant on a large base group of costumers who are using the apps around the clock.
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So what are the implications of these new steps toward location based communication? For one thing, there is the possibility of totally new and unexpected exposure. Many apps and websites like Twitter and Facebook try to pin down who you are and what you like. Those apps study who your friends are and what seems to interest you, and then they make suggestions that they think you will enjoy. In contrast, the location-based apps are all about exposing you to new people and places and informing you about events and ideas going on within your community. Yes, of course, these apps are very specific because they are catering to where you are, but they are significantly expanding your horizons within your vicinity. New voices could be heard during chats on MessageParty at town meetings. Photos could expose unsanitary school lunchrooms or unsafe potholes through Color. Upcoming local campaign events and charity services could be advertised by local political candidates through Geo-blogging.
I believe the greatest implication of location based communication is that it is taking us closer to a media world where we are able to actually progress as a community. The ability of communities to use these media forums to create something real and tangible for their members was illustrated by the Egyptain rebels use of Facebook and Twitter during the uprisings. Now, we are starting to move toward forums that cater toward this specific niche – community building. One does not have to overthrow a local government with these tools, but could instead create a closer and more aware community. Whether one uses MessageParty to strike up a friendly conversation with a group of people in line at Starbucks about the upcoming tax increases to build a new fire station, or uses Geo-blogging to figure out where the next yard sale will be, communities are growing closer and more conscious of what is actually going on around them. Although Twitter may report that Justin Bieber had a PB&J for lunch, these new geographically aware apps create real, tangible environments for people to build and develop their communities.
If the future of news is in the hands of applications similar to that of Color, I am worried for our generation and generations to come. There is something to be said about exclusivity and the news. We depends on journalistic hierarchy and have for centuries. Many of us rely on such prestigious news business institutions such as the The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal because we trust that their exclusive community knows more than us, or can educate and report on the events going on around us. As a participant of the new media culture, we strive to put up “barriers” to filter the incoherent and unintelligent commentary. In addition, what’s going to get people to care about sharing their stories or photos with strangers? People do not gravitate towards strangers on entertainment grounds as much as they do say in political revolution. Unless there is a great political or economic upheaval, a revolution let’s say, what is the point in posting a photograph for someone you have never met before? Or a community of people you don’t know? Doesn’t the Color app function similarly to that of Google Images? I’m curious.
Not only could applications like MessageParty reap havoc for teachers in classrooms, it is all symptomatic of the overall technology trend that has consumed today’s youth. It has created an unprecedented generation of technologically savvy preteens, who developed their ability at such an early age that it has not been a supplement, but rather an prime component of their education. Whether this is a good or bad thing, I can’t be certain. Though given what is easily available on the internet and at the fingertips of these youth, my gut feeling says its bad.
Like Patrico, I think a lot of this type of technology is a net negative. Increased connectivity can both aid and kill productivity. When students are using MessageParty or Gchat instead of paying attention in the classroom, it not only diminishes their ability to learn at the moment, but that type of ‘constant information induction’ makes it difficult to do other previously simple things, like read a book. I, for one, have gotten so used to the multi-tasking element of the Internet age that doing one thing away from the computer seems tougher today than it did 5 years ago.
How can we fix these kinds of problems? The best answer I can think of involves taking proactive steps to preclude your own time-wasting tendencies. Certain applications like StayFocused can help regulate the amount of time one spends on sites like Facebook or YouTube by blocking them after a specified time limit. It’s painful at first, but it may become a necessary component of the next generation’s online experience.
Very interesting post!
Although the concept behind Message Party may be interesting, like Arjun and Patricio, I think the idea may ultimately be harmful. When I am in the store and almost walk in someone because he/she has his/her head down texting, it is troublesome. I cannot imagine if there was an entire store filled with people, all “talking” to one another via text. I believe that the widespread reliance on and increasingly frequent use of cellular devices is severely limiting our ability to communicate orally. Students (ages 18 and younger, especially) who have grown up with iPhones, iPads, iPods, MP3 players, and cell phones often lack even the most basic writing and grammatical skills. While Message Party may be fun to use every once and while at a concert or other festive gathering, its widespread use may do much more harm to our ability to communicate than good.