DISQUS

Social Times: The Downfall of Large Social Networks

  • Charlie · 1 year ago
    Google's latest developer sandbox for iGoogle is a big deal.

    Check out my blog post here:
    http://google-code-updates.blogspot.com/2008/04...
  • Charlie · 1 year ago
    oops, that's the google announcement.

    My post is here:
    http://charlieokeefe.blogspot.com/
  • CultureSlurp · 1 year ago
    I agree that the real winners will be the niche social sites. I think the larger social networks (ie. facebook & myspace) are going to fade away as users find networks that are better in line with their specific interests.

    In fact, I think Facebook is going to fizzle away (in the U.S.) sooner than most people might think... http://cultureslurp.com/2008/04/22/3-reasons-wh...
  • Jay Davis · 1 year ago
    I highly doubt that Facebook is going to disappear tomorrow or anytime soon. It is just way too big and designed too well. The problem with niche sites in my opinion is that they assume that I have the same interests as my friends and that is not true. And to be honest with you I don't think that the majority of people join social networks to meet people online but to keep in contact with friends and family. That is why Facebook is not going anywhere. That's just my opinion but I think too many people make the false assumption that for most people social networking is a way to make new connections and I would say that for 90% of the people on Facebook it is about keeping up existing connections.

    I will make one prediction. With the opening of the iPhone platform I really believe that Apple is taking us to a new realm of technology we dreamed of in the '80s. Call me crazy but I really see a large percentage of Americans five years from now having an iPhone that performs all kinds of tasks for them that we can't even imagine now.
  • James Tafel · 11 months ago
    Jay, I do agree with your statement that most on these social networks are just keeping up existing connections. The niche networks for example will have an effect on sites like facebook, but I do not think it will fade soon either. Check out www.legacyspaces.com a nitche alternative to the commomly called social network "Exclusive Personal Network"
  • Bob Sanders · 10 months ago
    It all comes down to the value proposition.

    "Companies that don't realize their markets are now networked person-to-person, getting smarter as a result and deeply joined in conversation, are missing their best opportunity."

    Cluetrain Manifesto