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Social Media connections

There are several community oriented sites out there which can, when requested, search through an address book (either online or using Outlook, etc.) and other social media sites (such as FaceBook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.) to make suggestions as to people the user would like to connect to. Basically, it checks the address book against the existing member list and flags those that are in both lists.

Garmin Connect is attempting to become a more social site. As such, it should have such a functionality. (If it's there, I can't find it.)

Additionally, it should allow for sharing of items as requested on other social media sites. The most obvious is badges, but new records, etc., should also be sharable. (On the other hand, you probably shouldn't set up automatic sharing of every run. That's a form of social media spam.)

0 travis.vitek over 11 years ago

This request is asking for essentially the same thing. As I pointed out there, for this to work well, everyone would need to share their social data with Garmin, or at the very least use the same e-mail address for their Garmin account as you have in your contact list.

There is a social media connections page, but it doesn't do contact matching.

Travis

0 RASRITZ over 11 years ago

This request is asking for essentially the same thing. As I pointed out there, for this to work well, everyone would need to share their social data with Garmin, or at the very least use the same e-mail address for their Garmin account as you have in your contact list.

There is a social media connections page, but it doesn't do contact matching.

Travis

Is this something that Garmin would likely be implementing anytime soon? I've only got one friend on Garmin Connect and that is my wife. I don't know who I know who uses Garmin Connect. It would be good to have more friends on GC.

0 travis.vitek over 11 years ago

You have people in your contacts list on E-mail/Facebook/Google+/Twitter/LinkedIn that you know, but you don't know them well enough to know that they share a common interest with you? This seems so weird. Also, why is it important that they be be on Garmin Connect? There are so many people who use Garmin fitness devices, but they choose to use other software or websites (strava, runwithgps, runkeeper, ...) to track their workout activity. Under the proposed solution, these people would be excluded.

Why not reach out to others that share common interests in your area? If you like running, stop by a local running shoe store and ask about local running clubs and local events. If you enjoy swimming, talk to others at the pool. I introduce yourself to people.

I'm sorry if I sound down on social media. I have accounts on these services, but most of the people that I know in the fitness world I met the old fashioned way. Most of them I would never have met if I hadn't done so in person first.

Travis

0 Former Member over 11 years ago

I have colleagues spread all over the world and good friends that's I've gotten to know pretty well via social media. I know many of them run or bike or hike, but haven't asked them all if they use Garmin (Connect). If Garmin would integrate with e.g. Facebook Connect, then I would much easier be able to determine if they are also using Garmin Connect and then start following them as I see fit. Right now I would have to ask each one of them explicitly and on top of that also have to request their Garmin ID, very antiquated approach in these days.

0 travis.vitek over 11 years ago

Well, that use case makes sense. The one that I am frustrated by is the one that goes something like this...

I'm new to running and want to meet people to run with. Facebook integration will help me to find those people.

I don't think Facebook is the right solution to this problem.

Travis

0 Former Member over 11 years ago

There are several community oriented sites out there which can, when requested, search through an address book (either online or using Outlook, etc.) and other social media sites (such as FaceBook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.) to make suggestions as to people the user would like to connect to. Basically, it checks the address book against the existing member list and flags those that are in both lists.

Garmin Connect is attempting to become a more social site. As such, it should have such a functionality. (If it's there, I can't find it.)

Additionally, it should allow for sharing of items as requested on other social media sites. The most obvious is badges, but new records, etc., should also be sharable. (On the other hand, you probably shouldn't set up automatic sharing of every run. That's a form of social media spam.)

I agree 100%. It is impossible to be 'social' if Garmin Connect isn't integrated with your computer's contacts or facebook e.g. All the competitors have this solution.

0 Former Member over 11 years ago

Agreed. I have quite a few 'acquaintances' on Facebook. People I went to high school with, etc. I don't talk to them all that often, and I don't closely follow their status updates. I DO however, know them. I even live close to quite a few of them and IF they happen to run (and are using Garmin Connect) then it would give us something to talk about and I may even make a point of running with them.
That's great if you are a social butterfly while you are running but it's a different activity for each of us. I personally really enjoy running alone most of the time and don't really make a point of socializing other than a respectful wave or "Afternoon" to other runners and bikers I encounter.
What I would love to have from a more online social aspect are people that I know displayed on my leader boards. It can be motivational and even competitive!!
Hopefully facebook contact integration is something that is coming soon!!

Oh and goofy as this may sound, I'd like the ability to post my achievement badges to my facebook wall. I know I've got plenty of family and friends that need all the motivation they can get and those badges are kinda fun.