The Future Of Social Engagement

I live in a household (read: a shoebox in the West Village with my fiance and my dog) where social media apps are commonplace - hell, even my proposal this past summer had a social media theme to it. Recently I started thinking about the evolution of social media apps, and how my engagement with said apps has changed over the years.

Let's go back in time for a moment, shall we? Back to the summer of 2005...

I remember using Facebook (or The Facebook as it was referred to back then) for the first time during my summer going into college - the very first day I signed up, I received a private message from a girl who was going to be attending the same college as me:

"Maxim.. you are very hott [sic], but why the f@#& is your pic of you and some girl? I thought you were def taken... you need a new pic!"

From that point on, I was hooked - I couldn't believe that flirting with girls was THIS easy (17 year old Max was so naive...).

For the next several years, I (like most late-teens and 20-somethings) would spend hours a day on Facebook - I was hooked.

BTW if you're wondering, this particular girl is now married with two kids.

Fast forward in our time machine, and we're in 2014 - almost ten years later, and there are social media apps launching every day.

Still with me? Here's where things start getting interesting.

See, the amount of time that the average person spends on social media websites/apps each day can't possibly go up that much more (after all, there are only 24 hours in a day). Having said that, with the launch of new apps every day, people are starting to split their time between platforms. It's becoming increasingly difficult to maintain a very active social presence on ALL apps - sure, you can technically have a picture you put on Instagram be automatically posted to Twitter, Facebook, etc., but wouldn't you agree that that defeats the purpose of using different apps for different reasons? 

Somebody who was spending 1.5 hours a day on Facebook and 1.5 hours a day on Twitter is now spending 30 minutes on Facebook, 30 minutes on Twitter, 30 minutes on LinkedIn, 30 minutes on Instagram, 30 minutes on Pinterest, 30 minutes on Snapchat (or Snaphack if you're a guy - you're welcome, best $0.99 you'll ever spend), etc.

Obviously the combination of time/app will vary based on individual, but the point remains the same - with each new (popular) app that comes out, engagement with other apps is going to marginally go down. 

Since we'll never really get to a point where people are using 30 different apps on a daily basis, I see this playing out one of two ways:

1. We'll start seeing more and more consolidation within the industry (a la Facebook/Instagram), with new "conglomerates" that offer a platform with various features; or
2. Apps will just start fading out until people have a comfortable 4-5 apps that they CONSISTENTLY use (and this might be a rotating list as new apps come out)

What do you think? How have you been dealing with app/time usage?

@MaximSpiegel | MaximSpiegel@gmail.com

Mail Time

That's right, boys and girls, everybody's favorite part of the week - taking a look at the emails I got with all of your great comments and suggestions on the blog. 

Leggoooo...

"Max, I love your blog (okkk, good start), but there's just one thing (uh-oh), could you maybe use a little less profanity? (What profanity?) There might be children reading it. (What children?) Thanks sweety! (Sweety? Who is this?)

Love, Mommy"

MOM! Jeez! I'm trying to build an empire here - I need artistic freedom!

Next email time-stamped 2 minutes later - I kid you not.

"Max, its Mommy again. Please don't forget to take your vitamins."

Neeeeeext....

"Max, I need more modeling pics. I need it more than Christopher Walken needs more cowbell"

I never really considered myself a model per se (blush face), but yeah I'll definitely throw some more blue steel on there for the ladies.

"Max, interesting fitness idea - how do you plan on signing up Bar Rafaeli or other supermodels to do it?"

John, interesting question - If I knew, then I'd be building the app and figuring out a way to spend my billions.

All in all, here was the run down of blog-related emails:

• 23 total emails
  • 15 from new startups that want to be featured (I'll be reaching out shortly!)
  • 1 from my mom (I'm lumping the second one in with the first - it was technically just a continuation of her thoughts)
  • 3 really creepy emails (please don't kill me and use me as a skin-suit)
  • 4 emails from friends with words of encouragement such as "you suck", "this isn't funny" and "where's that $20 you owe me" (thanks for the positive feedback!)

As always, if you have any comments/questions/concerns, or want me to feature your startup, reach out to me via Twitter @MaximSpiegel or Email: MaximSpiegel@gmail.com

Secrets? Or Fortune Cookies?

Well, I finally caved due to all of the hype and downloaded the "Secret" app (to download, go here...https://www.secret.ly/). For those not familiar with it, the app essentially lets you share confessions anonymously within your group of friends - people can then "like" your post, which expands your confession to their network of friends, and so on and so on.

I was a little skeptical when I first read about the app - sorry to get all philosophical, but are we really getting to a point where people need anonymity to convey their thoughts and feelings?

But I digress...

My initial skepticism ended up turning into outright confusion. Either the people in my network are just really depressed teenage girls going through a breakup, or a fortune-cookie making factory has taken over the app... a few gems from my feed:

"A friend is someone that knows your secrets and still loves you"

Ummm...ok? Sweet confession, bro.

"I still wake up every morning hoping everything will be ok between us"

Who is us? What happened? I want (no, NEED) more details!!!!

...just kidding, I don't really care.

"When you look down, all you see is dirt, so keep looking up"

Ok this legit was an actual fortune cookie - I Googled it.

"Dreams are only as good as their dreamer"

Aaaaand this is where I stopped reading.

While day one didn't yield any juicy gossip for me, I'm not writing off the app just yet - I think once it gains more momentum we'll start to get a better idea of whether it will be worth using.

But for now, I leave you with my own "secret":

The world may be your oyster, but that doesn't mean you'll get its pearl.

Twitter: @MaximSpiegel | Email: MaximSpiegel@gmail.com

Did I Take My Pills Today?

...Said 90% of the population over the age of 65.

Fresh off a recent $4mm round of funding and launch, PillPack aims to make this question cease to exist.

Quick overview for those who aren't aware of what the company does: You pay PillPack a small fee, and they will fill your prescription, sort the pills, and package them up into tiny pill packs (get it, PillPack, get it?) that then get delivered to your house. Written on each pill pack are the contents, as well as the day/time that you should take those pills. Bada Bing, Bada Boom. Watch the video on their website if you didn't follow a word of what I just wrote. (https://www.pillpack.com/)

I'm really bullish on this company for several reasons:

1. They are from Boston (whattup 617);
2. If we can eliminate the need for prescription medications to be held in pharmacies, we can eliminate a lot of the tragedies that have been caused by nutjobs that go into CVS and rob/kill people for their next fix of oxycontin; 
3. They make it easy for their customers to seamlessly order and manage their prescriptions (all with 24/7 customer support) - because who in their right mind likes to wait at the pharmacy and run into a bunch of people that you know...which brings us to my next point;
4. Discretion... "Mr. Anderson, your Viagra prescription is ready...and did you want to pay for these extra-snug condoms here, or at the front desk" ...enough said; and finally
5. I don't know the exact statistic, but there have to be a number of people each year who overdose on pills because they have forgotten that they already took the allotted amount for that particular day.

Things that I want PillPack to think about going forward:

1. Get licensed in all states (they are currently licensed in 31)
2. Figure out a way to prevent substance abuse - currently nothing prevents somebody from opening each pill pack and taking only the Vicodin out of there, and then taking all the Vicodin at once - just a thought
3. This is a general industry observation, but maybe PillPack could be the pioneer... Integrate prescriptions into patient's medical records - how come every time I go to a doctor they ask me if i'm taking any prescription medication - shouldn't this all be in my file somehow? Its 2014 already...

Having said all of that, I think this company is going to absolutely take off - I'll definitely be signing my Bubbie up for this.

Questions/Comments/Concerns?

Twitter: @MaximSpiegel | Email: MaximSpiegel@gmail.com

How To Not Waste $150/Month On Gym Memberships Ever Again

I read an article today about a new app called Carrot Fit, which will essentially "motivate" you to workout/lose weight by yelling at you if you don't meet your fitness goals - $1.99 in the app store, or in my case free because I can get the same effect from my fiancé.

It got me thinking about how to actually motivate people to workout...

My first thought was "Shit, I've been to the gym once in the last 30 days"

My second thought was "Shit, That comes out to $150 every time I went to the gym"

My third thought was "Ok, I'm DEFINITELY going to the gym today"

Unfortunately my experiences with "the gym" and "fitness" have not been stellar to say the least. Here's a breakdown:

Phase 1 - Hook

While reading GQ, see a picture of Matthew McConaughey and think to myself "Damn Max, if you go to the gym and lift weights you can for sure look like that in no time" 

Well played, GQ, well played...

Phase 2 - Line

30 minutes later go to my local Equinox to sign up for a membership 

"Oh, this is the most expensive Equinox location? No problem"

Phase 3 - Sinker

Eucalyptus towels???? I'm going to go ahead and pre-pay for a year (after all, that investment pretty much pays for itself).

Phase 4 - Game/Set/Match

Work out every day for 2 weeks, then week 3 goes something like this:

Monday: Going to skip today so I can try out that new speakeasy after work...

Tuesday: Basketball game is on, can't miss that (but you don't even have to miss it, Max...It will be on at the gym)

Wednesday: Modern family is on, can't miss that (but that's only 30 minutes long, Max)

Thursday: Boozing after work

Friday: It's Friday, who wants to workout on Friday?

Saturday: See Friday

Sunday: See Saturday

After a week like that its game over, you're never going to the gym more than once a week after that, and you're now effectively paying $40 every time you go - well played GQ, well played...

\End Rant

Now for the solution to the problem - Public Humiliation

"Woah, Woah, Woah, hang on a minute there Max - that's not very nice"

Yea I get it, call me an asshole, call me rude, call me (gasp) mean, but DON'T tell me that my idea won't work.

And not just any public humiliation, I don't really care about humiliating people in front of their loved ones (because loved ones will accept you no matter what, and it won't be as motivating) - I'm talking about having Bar Rafaeli track my progress and comment on it. You can bet the house on the fact that guys will be giving it 200% knowing that she is watching and giving you positive praise when you're doing awesome and cracking fun at your beer gut when you're not doing so awesome - all via twitter, obviously (hence the public humiliation part).

Editor's note: This is clearly not for everyone.

Anyways - somebody create that app, I'll be customer number 1.

P.S. Eat that, GQ!

Follow me @maximspiegel