Social media creep isn’t that wacko who keeps poking you on Facebook, or the one retweets ad nauseum every single post that comes their way. Rather it’s the movement of networking tools from “traditional” social media platforms (as mentioned above) to a wider range of sites that include t-shirt companies, political groups, and pop culture sites to everything in between. While there are varying degrees of success for both the interface and outcomes from these micro-networks, one that stands out in particular to me is EveryBlock.
Touted as a “news feed for your block,” the site offers a full line up of location-based information such as restaurant reviews, geo-tagged photos, special offers, community events, crime reports and more, all from it’s member-based network. Aggregating info from other sources (Yelp, MeetUp, Flickr, Groupon to name a few), I’m finding myself unsubscribing from email lists and instead browsing neighborhoods on EveryBlock. It’s definitely not FourSquare, of which I’m somewhat loathe, as it’s not just a one-way interface. Rather, you’re able to communicate with others in a more profound way. And it’s slick redesign makes it appealing both visually and from a usability standpoint.
So how does this apply to the design industry? The site offers a blogging platform by which you can share your own personal news… A photographer or architect might expand his Flickr network through geotagging Fishtown photos in the 19125 zip. A review of a great looking restaurant on Yelp might spur others to check out the interior at 5th and Bainbridge you designed. Your gallery show in Rittenhouse might just grab the attention of that wealthy heiress reporting a pothole on her street through their system… There are a lot of maybe’s certainly, but the potential is all there.
Best of all: it’s one social network most companies don’t block… Let the browsing begin.
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