Did I take the red or the blue pill?
Wow, there is so much happening in the new/social media space and so fast. I t makes me think of the comic book super hero Flash and his blurring as he speeds back and forth. Now, 8apps, Gleamd, Spock and other players all vying for your joining and dragging your friends in. Pownce shaping up to be a good targeted message/file distribution system but not the Twitter killer so many had alleged. I have stated that Twitter due to it’s earlier entry into the new media space, powerful pedigree(Ev Williams of Blogger and Odeo), and usability with numerous api’s and the new blood from Dave Winer’s Twittergram will keep it going. Mobile-compatibility also a major plus in it’s favor.
To me the crux of all thee apps/platforms is that it allows me to find and dialog with more like-minded people and it makes the communication much more social. I can message a person directly and get a reply without having to leave a comment (like on a blog which sometimes can be perceived as fanboyish or sycophantic at the very least). In contrast I can also participate in somewhat of a dialog openly on Twitter or in Pownce in greater detail even as I recently did with a couple of switched-on new social media friends.
Facebook seems to be the real hot topic- personally I’m loving it.I recently set up event for a RL/SL mashup for Missing Pages, and the event system within Facebook is organized very well with RSVP system and people leaving comments which add to the actual event even before it takes place. Dave Winer had somethings to say on Facebook. Dave usually just has fun being a web 2.0 traffic controller pointing us here and there ala Scoble to new and cool emerging networks and technologies. Here he had some much more weighty and meaty comments and I recommend you check them out.
He basically alludes to Facebook breaking down the “garden wall”. His thinking is that to achieve true greatness you must provide open access so that others can modify and add and help you build a greater whole through community participation-so making it a coder social platform. The same can be said about Second Life. While Phillip and co have done wonders and built something special it can’t achieve true greatness unless it is integrated into the whole web community. This has got to be extremely frightening. I’m a father and I know how hard it is to let my children be their own person, so I can imagine these developers when faced with these decisions must be equally conflicted. Relaxing control for possible future good and greater fame, or failure, scorn and shame if you fumble.
What do you think? Will these be the companies to take us into the promised land or will it be someone else?
