Fishburn Hedges

18.08.2010

Being seen at the 'latest place' has long been the aspiration of the minor celeb and the up and coming. 

But in the past you were only seen by those who were there or, of course, via the paparazzi if you were interesting enough to be photographed. Today it struck me (after several months of scratching my head and trying to work out why on earth anyone would want to 'check in' on Foursquare) that the 'fashion statement' of where we go, may be the answer. Forget your wardrobe; checking into the right places is a whole new way of crafting your image.  

Are you the kind of person who hangs out in cute little one-off coffee shops that only the in crowd knows about? If so, don’t just tell people through your carefully crafted “oh-this-old-thing-I-just-threw-this-on” look, your friends can find out about it from Foursquare.

And the media types who used to rely on the DVF dress or Paul Smith suits to send out the 'I’ve-made-it-vibe' can achieve the same result with the click of a button. And they can even get to be Mayor if they check in enough times.

The question that remains for me is this: will this latest social media fad spread beyond the chattering classes? How many people really have the confidence (dare I suggest vanity?) for the trend to tell people where you are having your lunch or coffee to go truly mainstream? Or is it bad enough trying to work out what on earth to wear in the morning, let alone to decide when you should or shouldn’t check in?

As for me, I confess I’m intrigued by Foursquare, but also a little horrified on a personal level, so I’ve joined under an assumed name. Is that cheating?

Posted by Fiona Thorne