For my app review, I decided to choose Foursquare. With this
app, you “check in” to locations. Like other social media platforms, you can
have friends, “like” and comment on check-ins, and discover new places. You can
make lists of places you want to go, or your favorite places that you have
been, and share these lists with other users.
The app has been around since 2007 and has fluctuated in
popularity since then. Foursquare is available for free download for both iOS
and Android, and in addition to the app, Foursquare can also be accessed from
the web.
Many businesses use Foursquare to promote themselves,
sending out alerts when a Foursquare user is nearby, trying to lure them in
with exclusive offers. Often, checking in to a location on Foursquare unlocks
an offer such as a free appetizer, or a discount on merchandise. Many
businesses put a Foursquare sticker in the window of their storefront to let
users know that checking in will give them some sort of perk.
I’ve been using this app since about 2011 and I’m personally
a big fan. It’s incredibly user friendly, and comes with nothing but benefits
for the user. You can turn off the location alerts if they bother you, and set
your privacy as strict as you want. The only concern that some users have is
the fact that businesses and people connected with the app itself can know
their physical location any time they check in. While I think that is a
legitimate concern, no one HAS to use Foursquare, and these same privacy
concerns are present with almost any type of social media.
For more information or to join Foursquare, you can get more
information here: https://foursquare.com/
