We have always thought that there should be a way for local people to interact more with each other, sometimes it seems we know more about the lives and goings on of celebrities on the television or social media than what’s happening with those people actually around us.

In this digital age a possible answer is at hand and is called ‘Nextdoor‘, a private social network for your neighbourhood. Nextdoor says it is ‘the best way to stay informed about what’s going on in your neighbourhood—whether it’s finding a last-minute babysitter, planning a local event, or sharing safety tips. There are so many ways our neighbours can help us, we just need an easier way to connect with them‘.

The site looks and acts much like any social media platform, it allows members to post messages, events or even urgent alerts for others to read and comment on. There are categories for ‘Recommendations‘, ‘Items for Sale‘, ‘Crime & Safety‘ and ‘Lost & Found‘. It could be a very useful tool for helping others or finding out things you never knew.

On a cautionary note, the site does show which street you live in and if you don’t alter your profile settings it will show your house number too. If you value your privacy then this may put you off signing up, why not use the old fashioned approach and say hello in person.