5 ms·

Nextdoor: A neighborhood social network that is being used to fight crime

10 points by dglassan 14y ago

danboarder 14y ago
Nextdoor is an example of more practical/useful local social networking. Social apps/sites can serve greater needs than selling coupon deals and ads, and I hope we see more user-focused development like this (as opposed to advertiser-focussed development).
- adidash 14y ago
  Completely agree with you. Definitely see a variety of beneficial use cases ... wish it worked outside US.
sixQuarks 14y ago
I have a feeling Nextdoor is going to be huge.
rckrd 14y ago
Reminds me of a previous HN submission: http://thenextweb.com/socialmedia/2012/12/07/local-police-post-mugshots-on-pinterest-leading-to-a-57-boost-in-arrests/ http://thenextweb.com/socialmedia/2012/12/07/local-police-po... I think the key is using this technique on already established social networks. This seems like it would only target those who have actually had crimes committed against them: I'm not going to be browsing Nextdoor if nothing has happened to me.
- carbocation 14y ago
  > I'm not going to be browsing Nextdoor if nothing has happened to me. As a Baltimore denizen, I respectfully submit that not everyone thinks that way.
dglassan 14y ago
This has the potential to be a great example of software making a real difference. I'd never heard about nextdoor until a few days ago when my parents of all people told me how great it was and that they had heard on nextdoor of a series of break ins around our neighborhood. I've now heard greats things about nextdoor multiple times from different people since then
wtracy 14y ago
I actually got an advertisement in my mail for Nextdoor. I followed the instructions and plugged in my zipcode on their website. It told me that nobody had organized a group for my neighborhood, and that I could either start one myself, or sign up to be notified when someone else did. Maybe I should have put my email address on the "waiting list", but at that point I just closed my browser and moved on.
qbrass 14y ago
Sounds like something I'd monitor if I were going to rob a neighborhood.
- wellthat 14y ago
  surely criminals aren't allowed on? :-P

10 points by dglassan 14y ago

Nextdoor is an example of more practical/useful local social networking. Social apps/sites can serve greater needs than selling coupon deals and ads, and I hope we see more user-focused development like this (as opposed to advertiser-focussed development).

adidash 14y ago
Completely agree with you. Definitely see a variety of beneficial use cases ... wish it worked outside US.

sixQuarks 14y ago

I have a feeling Nextdoor is going to be huge.

rckrd 14y ago

Reminds me of a previous HN submission: http://thenextweb.com/socialmedia/2012/12/07/local-police-post-mugshots-on-pinterest-leading-to-a-57-boost-in-arrests/ http://thenextweb.com/socialmedia/2012/12/07/local-police-po... I think the key is using this technique on already established social networks. This seems like it would only target those who have actually had crimes committed against them: I'm not going to be browsing Nextdoor if nothing has happened to me.

carbocation 14y ago
> I'm not going to be browsing Nextdoor if nothing has happened to me. As a Baltimore denizen, I respectfully submit that not everyone thinks that way.

dglassan 14y ago

This has the potential to be a great example of software making a real difference. I'd never heard about nextdoor until a few days ago when my parents of all people told me how great it was and that they had heard on nextdoor of a series of break ins around our neighborhood. I've now heard greats things about nextdoor multiple times from different people since then

wtracy 14y ago

I actually got an advertisement in my mail for Nextdoor. I followed the instructions and plugged in my zipcode on their website. It told me that nobody had organized a group for my neighborhood, and that I could either start one myself, or sign up to be notified when someone else did. Maybe I should have put my email address on the "waiting list", but at that point I just closed my browser and moved on.

qbrass 14y ago

Sounds like something I'd monitor if I were going to rob a neighborhood.

wellthat 14y ago
surely criminals aren't allowed on? :-P