Gowalla

Review

Common Sense Media says

Foursquare-type social media app meant for older audiences.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Gowalla is a social media app geared for grownups. Users communicate their locations using not just the app, but also by using Twitter and Facebook, which means friends -- and potentially strangers -- can track a user’s whereabouts. Among the locations listed are adult venues, including bars and dance clubs. User comments are unfiltered and rely on community policing to flag posts that include profanity, hate speech, or inappropriate sexual content, but it's likely that these will appear on the site, at least occasionally. Comments frequently reference drinking, partying, etc.  Also note that users can create “trips” that suggest multiple locations for others to visit; some of these trips have adult themes, such as pub crawls. For more parent advice about location-sharing apps, check out our article.

  • Ease of use3
    This is a simple and intuitive application. Most users can discover everything they need to know simply by surfing around its menus.
  • Violence0
    Not applicable.
  • Sex0
    Not applicable.
  • Language2
    Users may run across foul or inappropriate language posted by other users in the form of "spot" comments, though this appears to be uncommon.
  • Consumerism4
    Users can search for local stores, restaurants, and other establishments commented on by other users by tapping “spots.” Company names and tourist attractions are highlighted throughout -- including Vail Resorts, USA Today, National Geographic, Subway, etc. Also, users sometimes receive offers of free or discounted brand-name products.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking1
    Entries exist for bars and other “spots” that serve or sell alcohol.
  • Privacy & safety1
    This app can create privacy issues.To sign up users are asked for full names, email address, hometown, cell phone number, and photo, though only an email address and cell phone number are required, and this info is not displayed to the public. Users can choose to post a profile photo; many people use their real full names on the site. Users can choose to share their locations with everyone (this is the default setting), or limit their location check-in info to friends. Even if users limit their location info to friends, if they create new "spots" or "drop" items at spots, their name and the date they visited will be viewable by everyone. Users must opt-in to share their locations through Facebook or Twitter. This app allows users to perpetually update their location through the app itself as well as Twitter and Facebook, making it easy for friends -- and potentially strangers -- to determine where they are. Users can also search for nearby friends.
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Is it any good?

 

Similar in design and function to the popular Foursquare app, GOWALLA has users check in at various “spots” (restaurants, stores, bars, landmarks, etc.) and post their location on the app, as well as to Twitter and Facebook. Some differences between the two include Gowalla’s ability to let users post photos of the locations they visit, find directions to spots via Google Maps, and create “trips,” which are groups of spots created by one user for other users to visit, such as landmark tours or pubcrawls. Like Foursquare, Gowalla’s location-sharing features and inclusion of mature spots and trips makes this app best used by adults. 

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This review was written by Chad Sapieha
Teen, 15 years old
September 8, 2010
AGE
12
 
i have this app on the itouch
perfect app only for 8 and older
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (4) | Had useful details (3) | Read my mind (3)
Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 11 years old
January 3, 2011
AGE
8
 
Over $5 Gumball Vending Machine When You Have It
Gumball Vending Game For App
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (3) | Had useful details (2) | Read my mind (3)
Flag as inappropriate 
See all user reviews
This review was written by Chad Sapieha
Category:Social Networking
Platforms:iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, BlackBerry
Price:Free
Publisher:Alamofire, Inc.
Version:2.1.4
Release date:June 17, 2010
Minimum software requirements:iOS 3.0 or later
This review was written by Chad Sapieha

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
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GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
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