The Gamification Concept and its Important Contribution to Social Media Sites

Gamification is a new terminology that came out vis-avis with social media. Along with the increased time people spend in social networking sites, developers have figured out using gamification concept to introduce idea, market a product, or increase social network sites interaction. Gamification in social networking is one of the contributing factors in increased Internet usage and increased user engagement. It also improves the level of user interaction. Anything that use game thinking in resolving non-game problems are considered gamification. Therefore, games do not necessarily fall on gamification category. It has to produce the gamification concept upon playing, before it can be considered one, as gamification applies a game design element into a non game task, and if a game does not promote that, then it has no gamification potential.

The world should thank one person named Nick Pelling, a British-born computer programmer and inventor of gamification who introduced computer games in 1980s, which later started the gamification concept used by some sites in the Internet, including social networking sites.

Social networking sites have established an outstanding platform for sharing, interacting and discussing to improve human relationships, but Gamification has added another way in engaging users into using the site longer.  When some social media users find social networking a bit boring, some games in the gaming section that enhances their learning process, seems to be the answer to their needs. The gamification concept that social networking sites like FB used among others, introduced, has increased competitiveness, and inspired its users to accomplish more tasks. Since gamification introduces more challenges that yield virtual reward, the more a social network site user is drawn to the site.

The addiction tendencies that gamification injects in some social networking sites are beneficial to online marketing. The more time spend on the Internet, the more chances of checking out paid advertisements and many more.

Looking back, games existed long before gamification become popular in 2010. Without gamification, online games are just mere platforms and dull software apps waiting to be clicked.  Active sending of invitations throughout the social site, inviting other users to a challenge is one basic form of gamification.  

Here is a summary of the contributions of the gamification concept to social media:

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•     It retains more customers. Therefore, it is one of the best marketing strategies online. It even increases customers to a certain restaurant or a convenient store through check-ins and badges systems.

• ·         It has become one of the best ways to engage the customers in a social networking site. Create more ways how users interact to one another in more than two ways.
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• ·         Improved usage of a particular software programs. For example, add on plug-ins allow users to learn the use of the program fast and easy.
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• ·         Gamification concepts incorporate ideas on how to inspire people to exercise more and therefore promote healthy well being.
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• ·         Gamifications are used as management tools used by some companies to increase productivity. RedCritter Tracker is one of the many examples of a productivity apps using gamification concept.