Trumblog

Yesterday I lobbied for some local badges on Foursquare now that the social network has gone borderless and even proposed one for my home town, Cambridge “our fair city” MA. Then I foundout that the local college went and partnered with Foursquare even getting their own badge!

Yup, Harvard has a Foursquare badge that they expect will encourage students to explore the campus and surrounding community.  Frankly since Harvard Freshmen live in Yard and don’t move to houses until their Sophomore year I doubt that their exploring the campus is much of an issue, but who knows.  Harvard even indulges we Cantabrigian’s love/ hate relationship with rge university by inviting to get in on the action saying that they hope “visitors and neighbors will benefit from the platform as it grows through use.”

It seems like this badge is awarded for checking in at a number of Harvard locations. I’m guessing that it’s at least 10 and probably more like 25+ check in locations to encourage real exploration.  Then again it could also be checking in at each of the 23 tips on Harvard’s Foursquare page.  Whoever gets one of these badges please let me know the details on what this is awarded for in the comments.

Foursquare has previously partnered with technology and marketing companies for custom badges such as for CES, Digg and Internet Week.  They also have a relationship with the San Francisco rapid transit BART, but this is the first partnership with a university.  While I’m not sure what the benefit this partnership brings to Harvard beyond bragging rights (suck it Yale!) Foursquare gets a boost in membership from over 20,000 smart phone toting students.  All the same I expect that this is the beginning of a series of such relationships and an increase in recognition of local activity via badges.

Oh and if you see me in the Yard I’m not stalking undergrads I’m trying to earn my badge.

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