Trend 2: Social network interwoven with real life
Another trend is that social networks are also increasingly interwoven with offline life. Although offline contacts are still more important for your sense of happiness and therefore for a more pleasant rhythm of life , online social networks are gradually gaining more influence. Research shows that being in contact with your offline friends online – the overlap between these two worlds – ensures a higher perception of happiness. And just like in the offline world, online too: quality, not quantity.
The social layer shows, for example, how social networks are able to influence your daily life, such as your choice of restaurant. An even more concrete application is paying, calling or sending a card via your social network. A good example of this is HyvesAfrekenen, which, in addition to transferring money to other Hyvers, also allows you to order your cinema ticket via the Pathe iPhone App , order food from Thuisbezorgd and order a beer on the terrace via MyOrder .
Another example is the location-based social network Foursquare . By checking in at locations, you can not only earn points, you are also made aware of special offers in the area. Think of a free drink with a dish or 10% discount on the entire collection if you check in at the location in question. Starbucks even offers a discount to the person who has checked in the most at a certain location of the coffee chain. The so-called Mayor of, for example, the Starbucks at Amsterdam CS can drink his coffee every morning with a one euro discount.
There are also companies that have already made the transition from offline to online, but still lack the romania phone number list social component. The company Groupon has grown enormously in a short time and is now worth billions . The concept seems simple: companies can offer a special offer to a large group of consumers via the site. A kind of digital brochure, actually. Groupon earns money from every transaction and the company in question gains a lot of new customers, who hopefully will come back again. It is only a matter of time before a social network offers a similar service. An additional advantage is that the type of consumer can also be selected. A trendy restaurant does not only want the bargain hunter who only uses the offer once and then never comes back.
Groupon
Barabas strikes again
On to the future. What will the internet look like in 3 months, 3 years and 10 years? Will we still be talking about social networks? Or will we be sick and tired of them by then and will we consciously live offline? Who knows? Developments are happening so fast that they are almost impossible to keep up with. My prediction is that the boundaries between offline and online will disappear completely. It will form one whole, with social networks being completely integrated into our daily rhythm. Portable devices such as tablets, mobile phones and laptops will become our entry points to life. Our entire life is in the device: social networks, photos, knowledge, opinions and the possibilities to make life easier. After all, that is what technology was developed for. To simplify our lives. Even Barabas will be surprised.