The need for public acknowledgement, "likes," "points," "badges," whatever, for one's activities has always escaped me; the rewards are in the doing, and in the help and joy you've given others. The fostering, promotion, and validation of the "look at what I've done" view of life is at the heart of the very strong negative influences social media has had on our society. There are positives to it, too, of course, but for me they are outweighed by the negatives.
While you are gathering those points and badges, your activities and locations are also being tracked and used for marketing and profit at the very least, and depending upon your privacy/paranoia levels, potentially even less benevolent purposes. Not to say flying around to interesting and fun places is in the least bit nefarious, but really, whose business IS it, other than yours? If someone wants to profit from or use my activities for marketing, product improvement, whatever, then I expect to be paid for the privilege of using my data.
The only remotely similar app I use is "Untappd," which helps locate pubs and craft brews, rates both the venues and the brews, etc. You CAN collect "points," "rewards," etc., by reviewing beers, logging which ones you've had and where, etc., but I keep my location turned off, never review or log anything... just use it for research.
I AM interested in the AOPA app if it can be used similarly.. it would be great to have a way to easily find fun flying destinations in whatever part of the country I currently am visiting, but I have no interest in broadcasting anything nor do I need an "attaboy" for my activities from anyone.
Yeah, I'm not as old nor as grumpy as I sound... I just can't stand social media.
