There’s been a lot of discussions of late about Facebook Places and if it’s going to be the Foursquare and/or Gowalla killer.  Well with new start-ups like GetGlue are we soon to be drowned in check in hell?

I’ve played around with Foursquare, and when I remember to do so, often check in.  I’ve also started to use GetGlue and can see a real benefit in both for Businesses looking to engage with potential customers.  But is the danger that it develops into a saturated market where the noise of advertising and getting your business noticed through clever and eventful campaigns means that they becomes yet another stale means of modern advertising?  What will be the next new phase?  Will it be having your heart rate, breaths per minute and blood pressure tracked and put of whatever the next phase of social media becomes.

We all remember the story of a Woman from Georgia being tracked down by a journalist based on her search terms. How will this translate when you’re whole social media interaction starts to be centred around Facebook.  From my user account people can currently tell: What I did on the weekend (Facebook); How I slept last night (Sleep Cycle); Where I am and have been (Foursquare); What I’m watching, listening to, eating, thinking (GetGlue); How far I’ve run and for how quickly (RunKeeper Pro).

Time obviously will tell who will emerge the victor when all is said and done.  I mean who would of seen Facebook coming out the water when MySpace was first launched.  Surely it all started with Friends Reunited?

Well I guess social media is a modern version of the music genre where fashions come and go, styles and attitudes can live on forever, and from one will always come another.  We have a clan mentality and will always align ourselves with something that we feel represents ‘our’ brand.  I guess for the moment 500 million people feel that’s Facebook.

I guess the bravest thing to do would be to check out of social media…but were would the fun be in that.