Binky - A Pointless Social Network for 2017
 |
| Gizmondo |
The solution is obvious - stop scrolling, either quit social media or find a new way of using it actively, but there might be a third option. What if you could take the actions - the scrolling, liking and commenting - and isolate them from the outside world, turn the whole experience into a kind of release? Well, that's what Binky does.
It started out as a kind of satire, a social network which offers the same feed of content, and the same ways to engage with it, but restricts it solely to you. In practise, it looks a bit like a cross pollination of Tumblr and Facebook, but all the 'Binks' are just things that exist. Let me give you an example, currently the top items on my feed are Jeff Beck, The X-Files, Taoism, the sheepshank knot and a ferret. I can either like, comment on or 're-Bink' these things, but it does nothing.
Well, not nothing, but not a lot. If you 'like' a post there's a small explosion of little stars, and if you re-Bink it there's a cascade of thumbs up symbols. If you comment, it doesn't matter what you try to type, Binky will start just putting words in for you, usually something along the lines of 'omg i love this so much'. It doesn't matter though, nobody else will ever see it. Oh, and you can also swipe left or right, prompting either a kind of fireworks symbol or a big middle finger to appear.
It's amusing, but some have observed that it could actually be the ideal social network for the current climate - it satiates the desire to scroll, like and comment without affixing it to anything in reality. It takes the most addictive aspect of social media and puts it in a closed circuit. If you're doing it on Binky, you might not feel so tempted to check your Facebook every five minutes.
If you really think about it, using social media to procrastinate or alleviate boredom doesn't make a whole lot of sense. It's a tool for communication, for connecting with people, but the instant gratification it provides has clouded its purpose. Perhaps if we all turned to Binky when we were bored, we'd start to remember the appeal of Facebook and Twitter, and start enjoying them again.
Callum is a film school graduate who is now making a name for himself as a journalist and content writer. His vices include flat whites and 90s hip-hop. Follow him @Songbird_Callum
Contact us on Twitter, on Facebook, or leave your comments below. To find out about social media training or management why not take a look at our website for more info: TheSMFGroup.com
Binky - A Pointless Social Network for 2017
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Rating:
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Rating:
Unknown
Keeping you up to date on social media, digital marketing, apps, news & reviews. Social media, and digital marketing as a whole, are rapidly and constantly changing, adapting to new developments at an ever increasing rate. Just keeping up to date can be a nightmare. Our team of writers know their field, and keep an ear to the ground. We aim to keep you informed of all recent developments in the online world, and teach you a little something along the way. So whether you just want to stay connected, or gain some knowledge for yourself, the Social Songbird will keep on singing! More articles are posted every day so keep checking back! Join the discussion on Twitter - #SocialSongbird Or contact us directly - @SocialSongbird_
Entrepreneur, international speaker on Social Media Marketing. First one in the UK to write and speak in conferences about Twitter as a marketing tool. Consultant to Corporate Companies, Government Organizations, Marketing Managers and Business Owners.
Aspiring novelist with a passion for fantasy and crime thrillers. He hopes to one day drop that 'aspiring' prefix. He started as a writer and soon after he was made Executive Editor and Manager of the team at Social Songbird. A position he held for 5 years.
Adrienne is a passionate writer with experience in editing, content creation, and social media marketing. She’s a lover of animals, helping others improve their writing, and 2000s pop culture.
Musician, audio technician, professional tutor and a Cambridge university English student. Interested in writing, politics and obsessed with reading.
Recently graduated with a BA in English Literature from the University of Exeter, and he is about to study an MA in Journalism at the University of Sheffield. He is an aspiring journalist and novelist; in his free time he enjoys playing chess, listening to music and taking long walks through nature.
Lucy is an undergraduate BSc Politics and International Relations student at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Anna Coopey is a 4th year UG student in Classics at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. She is a keen writer and researcher on a number of topics, varying from Modern Greek literature to revolutionary theory.
Ellie is a recent BA English Literature graduate and aspiring publisher with a passion for writing. Her favourite pastimes include reading and shopping.