Using social media to make you a better person
Online users create the best version of themselves for all the world to see, but why not use the power of social media to enhance your real life persona? From driving habits to healthy eating, here’s how social networking can offer a sense of community, competition and support to improve our lives.
Productivity and altruism – AOK
According to a survey by The Future Laboratory and Confused.com, 57% of people in the UK said that they would be more likely to help keep their community clean if some element of competition was introduced. The power of social media in driving this community spirit is evident in operation #riotcleanup, where a co-ordinated group of Facebook and Twitter volunteers helped to clean up the aftermath of the 2011 London riots.
One app that encompasses both the competitive and community aspects of social media is AOK. In this, users record Acts and Observations of Kindness (AOKs) and tag them on a map. These AOKs range from the simplistic (took out the recycling) to the potentially life changing (adopted an abandoned dog). Players can form local or online groups, and leader boards encourage both groups and individuals to outdo one another with their acts of kindness.
Health and fitness – Endomondo
Arguably the most popular use of social media for personal betterment is for health and fitness. The Future Laboratory Report found that 35% of people already use apps and social networks to monitor their fitness regime and calorie intake. There are a number of services on the market, but the one that stands out as being socially led is Endomondo.
At the core of this initiative, Endomondo takes the idea that fitness is more successful when you have someone cheering you on, and uses social media to share your workouts with your friends as well as add photos and messages of encouragement. There is also a competitive edge as users can organise challenges and share their progress online, and the site itself hosts regular challenges for competing teams (and even competing countries).
Driving – Motormate by Confused.com
If there’s an area where we could all use a little improvement, it’s our driving habits. Even the most self-proclaimed perfect driver has a few bad habits they’re either too proud to admit or simply don’t notice. This is where telematics technology can help. The main aim of telematics is to create a more bespoke profile of how you drive in order to make sure that the insurance premiums you pat are fair and more reflective of the kind of driver you really are. This idea is most popular with younger drivers, with 9 out of 10 of those surveyed in the Future Laboratories report (92%) claiming that they’d made more of an effort to clean up their driving habits if there was an element of financial reward.
The MotorMate by Confused.com app tracks a driver’s acceleration, braking and cornering and gives them a score at the end of each journey to let them know how well they’ve done. The app also allows drivers to share their score to their friends via Facebook, creating friendly competition between drivers who aim to get the highest score. The knock-on effect of this is that, as your driving habits improve (and there is proof of your improvement), your insurance costs could come down as companies see you as a safer driver.
Social networks, when used in the right way, can instil a spirit of community and competition to help you become a better person. Whether it’s trying to shave a few pounds off your car insurance premium, losing a few inches off your waistline or wanting to make your community a better place to live, social media can help you achieve those goals.
Jamie Gibbs writes for car insurance website Confused.com, the pioneers behind the Motormate by Confused.com telematics app. He specialises in motoring, fitness and lifestyle features, and tries to turn most of his daily tasks into a game to keep him motivated.
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