In the 21st century, young adults are constantly checking their social media accounts and text messages. For a while, the social media applications consisted of Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Vine, Snapchat, and personal email inboxes. Towards the end of 2015, the sales of a new product skyrocketed, opening up a new form of social media.
Fitbit was one of the highest purchased products during the holiday season. Students returned to college campuses counting their steps, tracking their calorie intake, and monitoring their sleep patterns. This device has become the main accessory to many college students. Fitbit not only tracks a person’s steps but also tracks the distance someone runs or walks. It monitors someone’s sleep and how many calories a person has burned. During a workout, the product will detect what workout a person is doing -- walking, running, on the elliptical, or playing a sport -- and will calculate how many calories and steps were burned and taken during the workout alone, and the impact on your total numbers for the day. This little device also allows one to input their calories consumed and will tell you how many more calories you have left in the day. Finally, the device comes in many different colors with different faces to see the time. Some versions of the product monitor one’s heart rate, which is helpful on weekends if someone is ever curious.
One connects the device to their smart phone through a Fitbit application. Through Bluetooth, the same numbers that appear on the Fitbit appear in the app. This new product has become another form of social media. If someone knows of others who own a Fitbit, you can add them as friends and challenge them to different tasks. If you accomplish specific goals, then you earn badges through the application. One is able to “cheer” or “taunt” them on the device, which will open into a messaging feed with that person. People can message through the application and see how active each other is.
This product not only encourages people to be more active during the week, but also allows users to cheer on others into completing their goals for the day. It is a new “healthy” social media platform.
