Social networks continue blending. What's next?

Social networks continue blending. What’s next?

Posted on Saturday, November 14, 2009 by Fred

When the Web 2.0 era started we began feeling that everything was about “sharing, avatars, engagement, friends, status updates”, etc. For any new ”social” website launching, if we included all the words mentioned above, we wouldn’t feel that they’re a copy of other sites. I guess that’s what a social network is supposed to offer right? However if we have a look at the biggest networks, the trend setters like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, either they’re running out of ideas or very cleverly not wrecking their heads with “the next big thing/feature” and simply copying their neighbors… or maybe making it official (like the LinkedIn-Twitter status updates) and integrating properly. Is that the way to go?
Anyways, looks though like Twitter is being copied the most… Here are a few examples:

Facebook copying Twitter

Back in March of this year, Facebook’s redesign offered a new experience… but wait a minute, didn’t that look like Twitter? Yes, so what? Even though that was immediately rejected by 94% of the users, Facebook felt it was the right decision and kept it. Soon, millions of users would get less passionate and forget about this “new design experience” and carry on enjoying the platform. From March ’09 to present, Facebook welcomed close to 100 million new and active users… looks like the Twitter thing worked out…

Facebook have also brought more Twitter stuff to the table: the “@mentions” that now appear as anchor text on the status updates. Great move. I wonder when will Twitter start adding some Facebook spice as “Like” on tweets for example. Blogs have adopted that in comments already. (Twitter and Facebook! what about a “Dislike” button?? Maybe too negative? Over to you…)

LinkedIn copying Twitter

First, they came up with status updates . Then, they made the most obvious change (and a great one I must say) that was including avatars! Recently they implemented the feature “follow” for LinkedIn groups (you can also follow people that you’re not necessarily connected with).
The most obvious one is the integration announced last week (An official partnership) about status updates from Twitter to LinkedIn and vice versa. Furthermore, a Twitter client functionality (right from your LinkedIn homepage) was just added.

Orkut copying Twitter and Facebook

On October 30th, Orkut (Now owned by Google) relaunched with features very similar to their cousins Facebook and Twitter… Don’t even need to say more. Have a look…

The question is: Will a new trend setter appear or we’ll keep seeing this kind of predictable changes? Would Bebo, My Space and other sites need to integrate with their brothers or launch the same features to retain users or simply to survive?

Come on, tell us… What’s next?

Best,

Fred

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Category: Social Networking, Social media.

Tags: , Facebook, ideas, Linkedin, orkut, partnerships, Social media, social networking features, the next thing, twitter

Mark Cahill

Fred,

I have found a little more Social Network Blending on YouTube. YouTube now has a "Find a Friend" option as used in Facebook, FriendFeed, GoogleMail etc.
Please see my Blog post on this:

http://short.ie/gm6xmz
Channelship

Thanks Mark
Lauren Fisher

Interesting post Fred. Everyone's trying to get a little piece of the social media 'flavour of the minute' that is Twitter. I just don't know that their features can really work across other platforms. Bit like a square peg-round hole kind of situation. I can't really say I've seen many people using the new @replies on Facebook.
I definitely think we're all ready for a change and a revolutionary social media platform. All that seems to make the headlines at the moment is that a site is adding real-time search, or that Facebook has had another redesign.
Like you, can't wait to see what's next.
Channelship

Thanks for the comment Loz. Maybe the Web 3.0 is around the corner... (definitely faster than what it took to shift from 1 to 2.0)
Stuart Adams

Good comments. I noticed, while doing research for a post on my blog, SociaLies, that more and more of the social media channels are trying to seamlessly integrate themselves, through apps and otherwise, with other channels.

This seems like the automotive and other industries, which often copy more successful models, sometimes to the point of losing their own unique, competitive edge. Lexus, for instance, copies the body style of a popular Mercedes model in the target market of Lexus, and they start to look the same. Hyundai then copies the Lexus model, and they all start to look the same.

This could be the start of backing into the Web 3.0 paradigm change, where data becomes universal and omnipresent.
Channelship

Thanks a lot for your comments Stuart.
It's true that the example can also be taken to the offline world. The Lexus design is something that I always wondered, how come this guys look so similar to Mercedes? I'm sure they lost a few cases indeed...
As you mentioned, maybe this is getting to a point where the Web 2.0 can't look creative or innovative any more... Let's see who brakes the ice first :)
617patrick

Good article, and here are some fresh ideas about how LinkedIn could make status updates really useful at http://www.the-linkedin-speaker.com/blog/2009/1...