One of the interesting things about the Web is how the lines blur between the categories of “useful” and “novelty.” These lines blur in two directions. First, some people find things to be useful that others find superfluous and unnecessary. And second, something can be both of those things at the same time.
It is in this light that I hold the social networking add-on called Timehop.
Timehop is easily one of my favorite things on the Internet. The concept is simple. You sign up (free, of course) with your Facebook, Twitter, etc. credentials.
After that, Timehop will email you your status updates from a year ago.
Who cares, right? It seems like a novelty at first glance, but I’ve found it to be incredibly rewarding and valuable. If I put something online last year, I’m reminded of it today, good, bad or indifferent.
I get sent pictures of my daughter when she was a year younger. I get the joy (or agony) of that Georgia Bulldogs game from a year ago. I get to see the political discussions play out while I already know the results.
Timehop puts this all on auto-pilot. I don’t have to update my settings, profile or anything else. I sign up once, and they work in the background, collecting and distributing my memories in annual intervals.
Beyond their main value, I really respect how Timehop handles their member interaction. They really only email me when they have something of value for me, and they can be assured that it’s valuable since I’m the one who created the content.
While I roll my eyes at Groupon emails, I’m actually excited to get a Timehop email.
Timehop can pull from Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, or even your text messages if you give them permission. They also have an iPhone app, but I’m an Android guy so I haven’t tried it out. I prefer the auto-pilot email approach anyway, but I’m sure the iPhone app is great, too.
When I overthink it (as I often do with things), Timehop is an example of how technology can actually help us in the real world. In a world full of daily deal email coupons, Timehop stands out as bridging the gap between our physical and digital selves.
It’s so easy for a Facebook post to get lost in the ether a few days after it goes up, but that doesn’t mean it’s not valuable later. It was something you created. It shouldn’t be lost.
I encourage everyone I speak with to sign up for Timehop. It’s free, it only takes a few seconds and it can give you a unique perspective on the social tools that have become so embedded in our lives. Their pitch line “A time capsule of you” is a real departure from the rest of the “next big things” out there.
Jesse Bushkar is the CEO of Sysconn New Media Inc. He can be contacted at 912-356-9920 or jesse@sysconn.com.