A light story today, in the social media arena. If you are on Facebook, you either love or hate FarmVille. I mainly find it annoying when friends tell me they have bought a virtual bushel of virtual soybeans or some such thing. And truly, I just don't get the whole point. But over 18 million people play it every day.There are 62 million active users -- roughly the population of the United Kingdom (which, by the way, has a total real -- not virtual -- farming workforce of about half a million).
Anyway, Shane Snow has published this post comparing Farmville with Real Farms. We learn, for example, that the average Farmville player is a 43-year-old woman and the average farmer is a 57-year-old man. And so on. It is strangely interesting.
Farmville? Might be better if these folks took a trip to their local libraryville instead. Sounds like FV is burning up millions of hours of our time. Time well spent?
ReplyDeleteThe hide button is your friend. Next time you see a Farmville post, hover your mouse to the right and a button will appear. Click hide Farmville (or other game). Presto, no more Farmville posts in your News Feed.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed the average player is a 43 year old woman. I thought we ladies couldn't keep up with being Superwoman; now we have time to play games on FB? Something strange here.
ReplyDeleteAlso from my rudimentary understanding, the game gives up any educational value by failing to put in any of the myriad obstacles for a farmer such as not enough rain, too much rain, depleted soils, diseases, debt, etc. But that might make it frustrating, too bad.
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