Chances are you have seen at least one person wearing Google Glass. The not so new invention from Google essentially allows you to stay connected and take pictures or video at the blink of an eye. It also has been under a lot of scrutiny and sometimes hate from people concerned about what the person wearing internet glasses is doing and if it is a violation of their privacy.
Flash forward to SXSW 2015 and the emergence of Meerkat. A couple of weeks later Twitter released Periscope. These 2 apps have taken the social world by storm. According to my latest analysis for the Adobe Digital Index Q1 Digital Ad report, Periscope is currently edging out Meerkat for usage. 
These apps essentially provide a way to livestream what you are currently doing and share it with your social audience. In many cases it provides a potentially engaged audience for something as simple as cooking your dinner for the night. This is a fantastic new tool for marketers and consumers. The possibilities of usage are truly endless, from showing consumers a behind the scenes look at what Banana Republic is thinking of stocking for its Fall line to a live behind the scenes look at what happens during a live taping of the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
These apps are both in just the beginning stages of usage, so many marketers are choosing to use both. I told AdWeek that I expect these live streaming apps are definitely something to keep an eye on and its probably valuable to use both until one clear winner emerges. Also, it is definitely something that should become a part of a marketers social strategy moving forward.
So with the potential to capture anything that is happening in the now, Google Glass users have to be wondering, “Doesn’t this cause the same privacy problems as our glasses.” Sometimes is takes a few cycles before we become accustomed to the “new normal.” Facebook, Twitter, Instagram have all gone through similar issues on privacy, and will probably continue to do so for years to come.
Even though there is still those who will scrutinize, with the quick emergence of these apps Google Glass owners have to fill a little vindicated and proud to be first movers of the live streaming movement.
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