Geosocial networking

Geosocial Networking is social networking in which geographic services and capabilities such as geocoding and geotagging are used to enable additional social dynamics. User-submitted location data or geolocation techniques can allow social networks to connect and coordinate users with local people or events that match their interests. Geolocation on web-based social network services can be IP-based or use hotspot trilateration. For mobile social networks, texted location information or mobile phone tracking can enable location-based services to enrich social networking.

Uses

Geosocial networking allows users to interact relative to their current locations. Web mapping services with geocoding data for places (streets, buildings, and parks) can be used with geotagged information (meetups, concert events, nightclubs or restaurant reviews) to match users with a place, event or local group to socialize in or enable a group of users to decide on a meeting activity. In disaster scenarios, geosocial networking can allow users to coordinate around collaboratively filtered geotag information on hazards and disaster aid activities to develop a collective situational awareness through an assembly of individual perspectives. This type of geosocial networking is known as collaborative mapping. Furthermore, geolocated messages could assist automated tools to detect and track potential dangers for the general public such as an emerging epidemic (see Flu Detector application on Twitter).

History

By 2008, expanded geolocation technologies including cell tower localization became available and devices such as digital cameras and camera phones began to integrate features such as Wi-Fi connectivity and GPS navigation into more sophisticated capabilities such as auto-geotagging.

By June, 2010, Twitter Co. integrated API into their applications.

Privacy Policies

Some sites, like Facebook, have been scrutinized for allowing users to "tag" their friends via email while checking in. Google's new project, Buzz, is an automatic application that requires users to opt-out. If they don't profiles displaying their social information will be open to all g-mail users.

Opt-in Vs. Opt-Out

An "opt-in" is a permission-based network that requires a user to join or sign up. The host is then given permission to access the user's information and to contact them. An "opt-out" network is defaulted to have the user included in a group. The user must remove themselves from the network if they wish to not be included.

Facebook, Inc. and Consumer Privacy

Consumer privacy groups filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission claiming the social networking site, Fcebook, was compromising user privacy. Facebook Inc. had supplied user information to companies including Microsoft, Yelp, and Pandora to which users had previously restricted access. The information, concerning employment history, location, education and recreational preferences served the same purpous as consumer surveys.

Twitter Co. vs. the FTC

Early in 2009 Twitter faced two different security incidents and user accounts were accessed by unauthorized sources. There were 45 accounts accessed in a January incident and 10 that April for short periods of time. In the first incident, unauthorized joke tweets were made from nine accounts and hackers may have accessed nonpublic information such as email addresses and mobile phone numbers. In the second, private information was accessible and at least one user’s password was reset. Within hours of the January breach, Twitter Co. closed the security hole and notified affected account holders. In the April incident, within minutes of the hack Twitter Co. removed administrative access to the hacker and we quickly notified affected users. The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched an inquiry into Twitter Co.'s security practices related to these attacks and announced that both them and Twitter Co. reached an agreement that resolves the FTC's security concerns. Since the account breaches and FTC statements, Twitter Co. has implemented many of the FTC's suggestions and released a statement that the agreement "formalizes our commitment to those security practices."

Additional Features

All Geosocial networks revolve around specific features that are additional to geolocating.

Ad Hoc Networking

A Mobile ad hoc network is an opt-in group of Mobile devices in the same immediate area linked to a master device. These groups are then able to communicate freely with each other. This sort of social networking is used mostly during events so the host (operating the master device) can provide information, suggestions or coupons specific to the event.

Food Sourcing

A less utilized form of Geosocial Networking is utilized by fast food restaurants, like 4Food, in which the customer checks in their order rather than themselves. Users chose the ingredients of their order, name it, and are awarded points for every order placed because of their update. The customer is given discounts and coupons with their involvement and the restaurant receives more customers.

Freelancing

Freelancing Networks are created with the specific purpose to allow users to find or post temporary employment opportunities. Users establish and operate a professional profile and are able to connect with past and possible employers, employees, colleagues, classmates and friends.

Location-planning

With Location-Planning, or social-mapping, users are able to search and browse nearby stores, restaurants, etc. Users Venues are assigned profiles and users can rate them, share their opinions and post pictures. These networks use the location of mobile phones to connect users and may also provide directions to and from the venue by linking to a GPS service.

Moodsourcing

Certain networks use Moodsourcing as a recreational way to make user's status's seem more similar to personal interaction. In addition to checking in, users convey their current mood with a corresponding emoticon.

Paperless Ticketing

Paperless Ticketing is a feature that uses smart phones as digital tickets for concerts and events. Besides becoming more convenient, this eliminates the need for printing out tickets and confirmation, creating less waste.

Social Shopping

Social Shopping Service users create personal profiles to collect information on different items they find. Instead of simply updating their status on other social networks with a description or link of their purchases, users download software that allows them to grab images of those products to post on their own shopping lists. Some Social Shopping sites form affiliate relationships with merchants, who often pay percent commissions on sales that come as a result of their products being featured on other sites. Sites have gone so far as to allow users to add their credit card number so their purchases are automatically checked in.

Some fashion corporations have invested in sensors placed in their stores and dressing rooms so users on Social Shopping applications have to physically be in their store or trying something on in order to gather points. This increases participation and encourages customers to to try on other clothes.

See also

• Geolocation
• Location awareness
• List of social networking websites
• Virtual community
• Geographic information system

Geosocial Services

1. Brightkite
2. Fire Eagle
3. Facebook Places
4. Foursquare
5. Gbanga
6. Geoloqi
7. Google Latitude
8. Gowalla
9. Hotlist
10. Koprol
11. Scvngr
12. Socialight
13. ThisNext