I was at a conference this past Friday and became friendly with a number of different folks who use social media tools I had never tried before.
One had posted something onto Facebook using Gowalla – a tool similar to Four Square. I recently started using Four Square and have found it to be quite addicting so I thought I would give Gowalla a shot.
After signing up for the service I was offered to find which of my current friends were already using Gowalla by entering my gmail/password. Big mistake. I just wrote this email to the developers/help of Gowalla and have yet to hear back:
Gowalla,
I was thinking about trying a Gowalla account after I saw a friend post from Gowalla onto Facebook. I signed up for an account and without my authorization, Gowalla SPAMMED my entire gmail address book with a message “I’m putting together a collection of photos where I’ve been. Check it out.” I cannot tell you how much this infuriates me.
I was simply following the instructions to see which of my contacts already had an account and without my OK, my 200-300+ contacts were spammed. This is a horrible business practice. I know you are a relatively new company trying to get more users, but this is a terrible and sneaky way to do it.
I am going to blog on a few different sites about this and urge anyone thinking about joining Gowalla to forget about it. Whoever programmed that feature into your new members should be fired.
At the very least it should be an opt in to message your contacts. I never write to companies, but this really ticked me off and I want you to know about it.
As you can see I was not happy. If you were thinking about trying this service, I would advise against it.
wow.. the entire address list? Yikes! that’s pretty serious. I wouldn’t try it. I am sort of abandoning games. thanks for the heads up — to them and to the rest of us
wow.. the entire address list? Yikes! that’s pretty serious. I wouldn’t try it. I am sort of abandoning games. thanks for the heads up — to them and to the rest of us
That’s hellish. I’ve heard they’re more accommodating to NPO’s as well so that really sucks
That’s hellish. I’ve heard they’re more accommodating to NPO’s as well so that really sucks
Boo fucking hoo, oh your precious contacts got an email from you?? Call a waaambulance
Boo fucking hoo, oh your precious contacts got an email from you?? Call a waaambulance
Haha – seems like the makers of that crappy spam Gowalla app that messaged my list commented above.
Haha – seems like the makers of that crappy spam Gowalla app that messaged my list commented above.
When I search for my gmail friends I get a list of them, then I can select/deselect them all. After thatI have to press a large orange button with continue on it to send out any messages or invites.
When I search for my gmail friends I get a list of them, then I can select/deselect them all. After thatI have to press a large orange button with continue on it to send out any messages or invites.
On the gowalla iPhone app it spams your entire address book. What a piece of crap.
On the gowalla iPhone app it spams your entire address book. What a piece of crap.
There’s an option to select or deselect all and then add. I’ve searched my gmail contacts a lot of times and it’s never sent an email out to my address book. Seems to me you didn’t understand the UI and clicked something you didn’t mean to click.
There’s an option to select or deselect all and then add. I’ve searched my gmail contacts a lot of times and it’s never sent an email out to my address book. Seems to me you didn’t understand the UI and clicked something you didn’t mean to click.
You used it wrong bro. You just clicked too fast. You should retract this blog because of user error.
You used it wrong bro. You just clicked too fast. You should retract this blog because of user error.
No Jacob – It was the iPhone app and it spammed my entire list. It was not user error. I am pretty savvy about things like this and I am certain I did not select “send an email to my entire contact list.”
No Jacob – It was the iPhone app and it spammed my entire list. It was not user error. I am pretty savvy about things like this and I am certain I did not select “send an email to my entire contact list.”
Everybody, Wake UP !”!!
Looks like All so Called Social Networks Use practices, which normally are hardly “legal” with regards to Data Protection !!!
If you use even a small part of thei “user experience..” triks.in other industries, under Data Protection Act you will likely go to jail..
But its ok for the S.Networks to store , read, Share etc all you private Data…
Wake up
I believe most of us, including me, will “pay” for the privilege of being amused and tailored to. Also, we’re sort of used to all of it considering how shameless direct marketing and advertising triangulation generally is already. We’re a little immune — our tolerance is pretty high. If you can’t beat them, join them, I guess.
Everybody, Wake UP !”!!
Looks like All so Called Social Networks Use practices, which normally are hardly “legal” with regards to Data Protection !!!
If you use even a small part of thei “user experience..” triks.in other industries, under Data Protection Act you will likely go to jail..
But its ok for the S.Networks to store , read, Share etc all you private Data…
Wake up
I believe most of us, including me, will “pay” for the privilege of being amused and tailored to. Also, we’re sort of used to all of it considering how shameless direct marketing and advertising triangulation generally is already. We’re a little immune — our tolerance is pretty high. If you can’t beat them, join them, I guess.