It seem every few years a new one emerges.
Are we all mindless followers of the newest trend?
I believe since before the Internet was created people have thought “Hey, what if there was a place we could all chat, but not in person!” Now a days we call a place like that by many name, Facebook, Myspace, Friendster, Google+. It’s all the same guys!
My friend describes a new social site like this: (please excuse the spelling as he types it up)
And thus begins the next cycle of social network life.
This is the “exclusive” phase, where only the cool people have profiles. This phase is typically a very lonely time for members because there only so much 5 people can talk about before they become murderously bored of each other. Interestingly, this phase is becoming shorter and shorter with each new iteration.
Next is the “popular” phase, where millions of people create profiles. It is here that those who participated in the “exclusive” phase develop that whole love/hate schizophrenic attitude toward the site. This is also where hipster poseurs begin to cry from the rooftops how lame the site is while they post their minute-by-minute mundane status updates.
Next is the “generational assimilation” phase where parents, young kids and grandparents hop on the bandwagon, thus ensuring the eventual and unavoidable demise of the site. Ironically, this is also when the site enjoys its largest revenue numbers. Those involved in the “exclusive” phase leave the site in droves…all five of them.
Last is the “minor exodus” phase where a new site comes out and gives birth to the “exclusive” phase of an entirely different social networking site that is exactly the same.
And sadly enough.. I agree with him. It seems that when a new site comes out no matter how much it is the same as the other (Google+) Everyone has to flock to that site and the old one becomes an empty ghost town(Myspace) or eventually ruins (Friendster). This picture sums up my words well. Social site landscape.
Comment
Comment below and help me out. Do you think we just follow the newest fads? Do you think our predecessor sites can survive? Comment.
July 17th, 2011 at 10:07 am
I agree. So many sites and social networking opportunities. Sometimes it won’t hurt to actually meet up with a friend.