One of the things I remember reading about extensi...

2008-10-22T18:30:00.000+01:00

One of the things I remember reading about extensively through my post grad studies was critical mass. This theory simply states that when a network reaches a certain point, the adoption of an alternative would provide substantially less value to the user. In the case of social networks, the largest organisations (namely Myspace and Facebook) should have reached critical mass. Unusually, this doesn't seem to have happened. Even consumer lock-in does not seem to be preventing outward migration.

I truly believe that over the coming years we will see new, ever more innovative platforms rise, shine, and then fade. Until a viable revenue generation model for social networks is established, social network survival seems to rely upon the organisation's ability to acquire capital. This will become increasingly difficult, particularly in the current economic climate.

I think the problem with the social networking are...

2008-10-22T16:45:00.000+01:00

I think the problem with the social networking arena is that people have seen how successful MySpace and Facebook have been in gaining corporate buyers, and are of the mindset "I want a piece of that".

Unfortunately, what they don't take into account is how hard it is to build the initial followers, as well as maintain their happiness when there. It's not just a matter of "set up a new social network and the suits will fly to buy me".

As you rightly mention, even the "big boys" are realizing the problems - MySpace, for example, doesn't really have a large audience outside of the US, and Facebook doesn't seem to know what to do with itself.

Perhaps we need a Google to step in and show how it's really done, if we want social networking to outlast the initial buzz.

Comments on The Lovable Rogue: The Future of Social Networking; What Future...?

One of the things I remember reading about extensi...

I think the problem with the social networking are...