Despite all the hoopla surrounding Facebook and how its new privacy policy will effect members, the public is still hungry for unique ways to share information about themselves. If posting photos and uploading videos is leaving you feeling a little ho-hum, then perhaps you should consider joining Blippy. Unlike traditional social networking sites that focus on sharing contact information, photos and status updates, Blippy lets users share their financial information.
What's the 411
In a nutshell, Blippy is a service that lets members automatically share their credit card transactions as they make them. Not only will members see the amount of your purchase, but they'll also be privy to the place of purchase and items included in the transaction. Signing up is pretty easy and actually similar to other social networking sites with one exception, you provide your debit card or credit card information. Once you've established an account you're transactions are populated into the system and can even be cross-posted to Twitter.
Safe and Secure
According to a 2009 study conducted by Javelin Strategy and Research, there were 10 million victims of identity theft in 2008 in the United States. Nearly half, or 43 percent, of all identity theft observed was through stolen wallets and physical paperwork, whereas online methods had accounted for only 11 percent. However unsettling these figures are they haven't stopped the thousands of people who are clammering to become members of Blippy. Founders insist that their state-of-the-art encryption will protect data from being stolen or reused.
So what's the hook? Why would you want to share financial information with others? Details regarding our finances have always been considered taboo in social circles. People aren't supposed to share what or where they're plunking down their cash. But with the advent of Blippy, discussing personal expenditures is no longer off limits. Society has always been curious about the lives of others - think about reality shows or rubber necking a traffic collision - so it seems only natural that the fascination would continue with a stranger's personal finances.
What You'll Get From It
The most interesting aspect of Blippy is its most unexpected one. Instead of gasping at prices or snickering at purchases, members are actually exchanging details about great finds and super bargains. Even more common, is discovering places to shop that are off the beaten path and alerting others to special discounts to be found. Blippy can really be described as something similar to a tweet-feed based on shopping.
As a tool, Blippy has a ton of potential. For instance, a competition was created to see who could spend the least amount of money for an item using their debit card. The winner was able to buy a single Tootsie Roll using a credit card for $0.03. Organizations have the potential to fundraise and challenge supporters to out-donate each other. Along these same lines, stores could alert shoppers about local deals and make recommendations based on items previously purchased. Marketing firms could review spending habits to understand consumers and deliver targeted products and services that would be more appealing to them. The possibilities are endless.
In the meantime, trend experts predict that Blippy is the next big thing. Giving the world a sneak peek inside your wallet is definitely a way to channel discussion on spending habits and connect with other people with similar interests by way of spend pattern. Blippy is worth watching to see how it evolves and how it can become the next social media tool that can be used to catapult your business, product or service to the next level.