Thursday, September 30, 2010

Bump. A social media for your license plate?

Has social media gone to far this time?
Wired magazine covers Bump.com, a new social media platform, uses license plate recognition technology to allow drivers to connect with each-other.

"The license plate has never given the consumer anything," said Mitchell Thrower, creator of Bump
What I would like to know, is why would I want to connect with people I share the road with?

12 comments:

Kim Gandy said...

This article mentions a use of bump.com is to inform family members during your holiday travels...I don't get it.

Anonymous said...

I'm really not a fan of this - I think it is just another way for the stalker-ish people to find a way to follow their victims. Also, I think it can put out information that one does not necessarily want made public.

Hillary said...

I just don't see why anyone would think this is a good idea... seems super creepy to me.

Colter Ray said...

I like that on the Bump Web site they give examples that start out with good intentions such as "you left your lights on" or "your gas tank flap is open" and then it quickly turns into "I think you're cute."

Overall, has minimal potential to do good, lots of potential for bad, stalkerish behavior.

Megan Moede said...

I think it's good that people are creating new ways of social media in our society, but like other bloggers have mentioned.. it's kind of creepy. I don't like the thought of someone being able to track me like that.

Aubrey Williams said...

I agree that the bump.com network is a little creepy..I think it is good in theory but will not work in reality. It could be used to help others..but it can also be used to take out road rage and in creepy/stalkerish ways like the other bloggers mentioned. I also think there would be too much personal information will be out there for anybody to read.

jaclyn perry said...

I wonder why someone would really want to use this. It seems just a little creepy to me. I don't see it taking off at all.

Danika said...

I think this is VERY creepy!! I don't think I would want someone to have my license plate to see what I am doing and where I am at. I don't think this will be a huge hit.

Shahar Gurvitz said...

Creepy. Big Brother would be all over this site. No thanks to strangers knowing every detail of my personal life.

Caroline Keaveny said...

This is not okay. My dad would not approve.

SarahT said...

I have to agree with the others. I do not like this idea. I think it creepy. I agree that it is an innovative social media idea, but I think it crosses the line of normalcy.

B3nj@min said...

This is too much, even for a social media site! You can track people with a license plate cant you? I mean you can get addresses and the owners names. What is to stop crazy people from using this for their own sadistic reasons? I would not feel safe using this. I am afraid to post my place on facebook sometimes in fear of someone breaking into my house, this just takes it to a new level.