TL;DR: Foursquare is shutting down its City Guide app in December 2024, focusing on its check-in app Swarm instead. The move is part of a broader shift in the location-based social networking space, with Foursquare promising new features and capabilities for Swarm. The decision has elicited mixed reactions from users, with some expressing sadness over the closure of City Guide.
It’s an end of an era for anyone who has ever used Foursquare before. In October the company announced that it’s shutting down the Foursquare City Guide app. This strategic move, set to take effect later this month, on December 15, 2024, signals a renewed focus on the company’s check-in app, Swarm. The decision marks a significant moment in Foursquare’s evolution and reflects broader changes in the location-based social networking space.
The End of Foursquare City Guide
Foursquare’s City Guide app, once a cornerstone of the company’s offerings, will cease operations on mobile devices in just a couple weeks. The web version of Foursquare Guide will follow suit in “early” 2025, completing the transition.
If you were ever a loyal user, you can visit your Foursquare account page here. Maybe take a few screenshots while you still can. All of those curated lists that you made will soon disappear.
The Swarm App Takes Center Stage
With the sunset of City Guide, Foursquare is channeling its resources into enhancing Swarm. The company promises “exciting new features and capabilities” for the check-in app, with updates slated for release early next year. This pivot suggests a renewed emphasis on social connectivity through location sharing, potentially redefining how users interact with place-based digital services.
Industry Impact and User Reactions
The closure of City Guide has elicited mixed reactions from the tech community and long-time users. Foursquare founder Dennis Crowley expressed his emotional response to the news on Threads, highlighting the personal investment many have in the platform. “I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I have been in a real funk these last few days over this news,” Crowley shared on social media.
Users and industry observers have described the shutdown as everything from a “gut punch” to simply “sad.” The nostalgia surrounding City Guide’s closure underscores its significance in the early days of mobile apps and location-based services.
Business Continuity and Data Handling
Despite the app’s closure, Foursquare assures users that business listings will remain accessible through Swarm and the company’s data partnerships. As a major provider of location data, Foursquare continues to distribute listings to large-scale partners, maintaining its role in the location technology ecosystem.
The company also emphasizes its commitment to responsible data handling and user privacy. Foursquare states, “As pioneers in location technology, we believe it is our duty and responsibility to set best practices related to data privacy and the ethical use of data.”
Looking Ahead To The New Version Of Swarm
As Foursquare refocuses on Swarm, questions arise about the future of location-based services. Will users embrace a return to prominent check-in features? How will Foursquare differentiate itself in an increasingly privacy-conscious digital environment? The tech industry moves fast and today’s dominant platforms can quickly become tomorrow’s nostalgia.
And the move to kill the Foursquare app may be more about survival than a change in strategy. In May, Foursquare laid off 105 employees. They may no longer have the resources to maintain both apps.
As the Foursquare City Guide shuts down, many will wait and see how (and if) Swarm will evolve and whether it can recapture the magic that once made Foursquare a household name in social media.
Personally, I’m also sad. I never made the switch to Swarm in 2014 and instead just stuck with the Foursquare app. Now I’m being forced into Swarm and I’m not sure I’ll stick with it. Maybe it’s time to finally check out of Foursquare.
RIP Foursquare. Long live Swarm? #LocationBasedServices #FoursquareShutdown #CityGuideClosure #SocialNetworking #SwarmApp #FoursquareApp Share on X
Frank Wilson is a retired teacher with over 30 years of combined experience in the education, small business technology, and real estate business. He now blogs as a hobby and spends most days tinkering with old computers. Wilson is passionate about tech, enjoys fishing, and loves drinking beer.
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