Gowalla… A more social, social network.
Almost everyone takes part in some type of social network these days. Facebook, Twitter, LinkdIn, and MySpace often come to mind when anyone mentions social networking. All these social networks are basically ways to connect with friends or let people know what you are doing. Ultimately they allow you to maintain relationships, but you can’t actually partake in any social activities.
Enter: Gowalla..
Home page of Gowalla for iPhone
Gowalla was released in December 2009 and has been gaining popularity ever since. Gowalla is a social network that allows you to join in on a world wide scavenger hunt with all your friends. The idea is that you can “Check In” (through the Gowalla App on your iPhone or Android) at almost any establishment, ie: bars, pubs, stores, restaurants, schools, and more.
Once you have checked in you are able to see who else is checked in and when they checked in, and you can also see what items have been left at the location you are at. Collecting items is really where Gowalla departs from being a social network and becomes a game.
You begin with around 5 different items than you can trade in for new items you find when you check in. For example yesterday I checked in at Capilano U and I found a watering can and some wooden building blocks. If you arrive at a destination you think other Gowalla’rs should check out you can fill out a quick form and become the creator or founder of the new location. From there the location is open to anyone to check in at and leave items.
One of the coolest features of Gowalla is at each location you can view who has checked in and how many times. Users are ranked by number of check ins and whoever is at the top of the list is considered the mayor of that location. Since you can view all the check ins by date and time you can see if any of your friends are currently at your local coffee shop before you decide to make the trip over.
So far I have found Gowalla to be incredibly fun. I love checking in at different locations I go to and it’s always easy to pass the time looking for different items to collect. This social network / App is perfect for anyone who’s interested in trying out a more social, social network.
I am beginning to love Gowalla. At first I didn’t understand why I was using it but after a while I truly began understand what to do with this app. It’s a great way to connect with CEO’s, and also check out the world around you. I love it!