A prediction
I believe special purpose social networks are an evolutionary dead end. I just spent some time this morning unsubscribing from a handful of them - TripIt, GoodReads, Last.fm, YouVersion. Each was a good idea in and of itself, but I ended up not spending much time on them, nor really having enough friends on each to make them worthwhile.
I predict almost all single purpose social networks will be subsumed by the likes of Facebook or will die from lack of interest and scale. And here's why - anything you can do in a special-purpose social network you can do in a more general purpose network like Facebook or MySpace. If not using built-in features, then by someone writing an app to be embedded in them.
Each social network you add to your list is just one more damned thing to remember to check, manage and participate in. And it just isn't worth it to keep up that level of effort around a single topic or interest. The only special purpose networks I see remaining viable are those that allow you to share (and in some more important sense, store) media, like Picasa, Flikr and YouTube, and those that serve groups with specialized vocabularies and interests, such as various programming and medical groups.
At least that's what I think. Thoughts? Comments?
12 comments:
One network to rule them all, and in the darkness bind them.
I think you are right on the mark. I belong to a few things and usually ignore all of them except for Facebook, Last FM, Youtube and occasionally Stumble Upon (because I like the SU feature - not the social aspect which I don't participate in). Oh, I also use Picassa.
Meghann,
That would be MySpace, yes? You ever notice the similarities between "Murdock" and "Mordor"? :o)
Seriously, I don't think it will be one - there's MySpace, FB and LinkedIn for professional networking. Each has its own niche and place, and I belong to all three. But in those three I can do pretty much anything a single purpose social network can do. So why add to my list of sites that take care and feeding unnecessarily?
Barbara,
Last.fm is dead to me (you know why). Plus, it was never really the social networking thing it was supposed to be. I guess that's my point. There are other "what I am listening to" and "music you may like" apps built into FB. So why not just use FB?
And I see Picassa (and to a lesser extent YouTube, if you're a video uploader) as more of an online storage/sharing service than a social network. Yes, there are social networking aspects built into them, because there is in everything now, but I don't think many people use them for that (in comparison to FB, MySpace, LinkedIn, etc.)
True, although I've been members of both MySpace and Facebook long enough to see them both get closer and closer to being the same thing.
And I do agree, I become a member of tons of things, and then get so busy with all the things I'm already on, I forget they exist, lol!
I've actually been pruning my memberships and making sure I delete accounts as I do.
Per MySpace vs. FB, I think there's a BIG difference in look, style and "feel". MySpace is going out on the town for the evening. Lots of garish billboards, flashing lights and entertainments of a sorta sleazy nature. I am a member there mostly because some of the indy bands and musicians I like are there, so that's where I "follow" them.
FB is where family and friends tend to hang. It's lighter, not quite "in your face", and the atmosphere is a bit more wholesome. At least, that's how it feels to me. OTOH, I tire of all the little "cute" applications, and pretty much ignore all such invites any more (no offense, it's just not my bag - except for Pieces of Flair! :o)
Jim,
You are right on with your assessment of Spacebook. Wait, MySpace and Facebook.
Amen on the invites too. If I want to drink with you trust me - I'll find you and you'll regret it. Same with the plant thing. All I want are rose bushes or Oaks.
-Sam
Jim,
You are right on with your assessment of Spacebook. Wait, MySpace and Facebook.
Amen on the invites too. If I want to drink with you trust me - I'll find you and you'll regret it. Same with the plant thing. All I want are rose bushes or Oaks.
-Sam
True... I'm even contemplating the point in FaceBook but that's what I get from reading a book of essays by a guy who seemingly is anti- a lot of things including technology... but then again, you wouldn't see this from my GoodReads account :) ha.
I personally find it "interesting" when these social networking sites won't let you delete your account though, don't you? twitter in particular had me riled up.
Lately I haven't want to do a whole lot at all (which is why I haven't blogged in a fair while), but then there's been a fair few interesting people that still keep it worthwhile...
Sam,
I actually like the various Notes memes going around - like 16 albums, 25 random things, etc. At least with those there's a chance you learn something about your friends and family you didn't know.
Chris,
Yeah, I am cutting back a bit myself. For one, work is really busy. For another, I want to spend more time being creative and I think social networking for the most part is simply interactive TV with a 1,000 button remote.
I like the 1k button remote concept...
I feel like such a schlep, Jim. I had a neat and lengthy reply to this, but upon further consideration, decided it could be a new post on my blog, linked back to here (since I haven't blogged in ages). But I haven't had time to put it up, so I have the text somewhere around here waiting to be pasted, formatted, and published.
In the meantime, all you've gotten is this long, worthless comment instead. :-)
CH,
I look forward to your post! :o)
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