About four months ago, I wrote one of the most popular posts on the site to date, entitled, “Filtering: Why FriendFeed is taking the web to the next level.” In it, I discuss the direction the social web has been taking for the last year or so and why FriendFeed, in particular, has been ahead of the curve when it comes to the web’s evolutions.
Simplicity, as I’m defining it, is a step beyond mere filtering– it’s what we reach once we’ve refined, drilled down, and pared away all but the necessities of our social web and social media experiences.
However, with the developments of the last month and a half or so, it’s clear to me that the needs of the social web have moved past filtering, the next step I posit in my July post. As the economy impacts the tech sphere, once-sturdy Web 2.0 startups crumble, and even the most powerful publishing companies begin to feel the strain, I’m realizing that what I and many fellow users need now is simplicity. Simplicity, as I’m defining it, is a step beyond mere filtering– it’s what we reach once we’ve refined, drilled down, and pared away all but the necessities of our social web and social media experiences.
What evidence is there that we’re turning toward Simplification?
Evidence supports this hypothesis on many levels. Here are a few reasons:
- Google Friend Connect and Facebook Connect have launched, launching redoubled attention toward open social graphs; both services have met tremendous initial success in a field in which OpenID and MySpace Connect have floundered.
- Smaller services are being shut down or integrated into existing, larger networks, like Six Apart’s recent cannibalization of Pownce.
- The worsening economy has eliminated many tech jobs; fewer people are now carrying the industry and social media users have less time to devote to social media activities.
Even more anecdotal reports emphasize that the noise, even after filtering, is just becoming too much. The Inquisitr’s excellent Steven Hodson writes (emphasis added),
I wonder if at some point this whole world of hyper-conversations won’t begin to collapse in on itself. I know that technology and the Internet is changing how we percieve [sic] and deal with our world. I know that it is changing us as human beings and I’m okay with that – in fact I think it is great thing. But we are not processors living the life of Moore’s Law. We do have finite edges of tolerance to what our minds can absorb and logically deal with.
Steven’s right, but what he hypothesizes is already occuring– we are collapsing in on ourself, as we speak. We’re in the process of simplifying, pruning, cutting down, eliminating; doing whatever we can to make things simpler for ourselves.
The social cycle
It’s my belief that the web will soon begin back at where it started– with quality content. I’d like to introduce a little model I’m giving the working name “Social Cycle,” because that’s exactly what it is– the continuous circuit on which I think we’re firmly planted.
We can see the path that we’ve already taken, and hence where we’re headed. Starting at the top:
- The social web is built on quality CONTENT that evokes interest, amusement, or emotional engagement.
- CONVERSATION is generated around this content and becomes as important as the content itself.
- The content and conversation occurring across require AGGREGATION that combines these streams.
- Users FILTER from the aggregates the content that matters to them.
- Users SIMPLIFY, attending only to the services, content, and conversations that meet their needs.
- Content, conversation, and services that do not meet needs die, leaving only the highest quality CONTENT.
And, as you can see, the cycle begins again.
FriendFeed predicted the Filtering step, but will it help its users simplify? The first services to offer these options will soon find themselves on the top of the dogpile.
What do you think? Is Simplification next on the social web’s roadmap? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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The Simplification era is nigh
by Andy DeSoto on December 8, 2008
About four months ago, I wrote one of the most popular posts on the site to date, entitled, “Filtering: Why FriendFeed is taking the web to the next level.” In it, I discuss the direction the social web has been taking for the last year or so and why FriendFeed, in particular, has been ahead of the curve when it comes to the web’s evolutions.
However, with the developments of the last month and a half or so, it’s clear to me that the needs of the social web have moved past filtering, the next step I posit in my July post. As the economy impacts the tech sphere, once-sturdy Web 2.0 startups crumble, and even the most powerful publishing companies begin to feel the strain, I’m realizing that what I and many fellow users need now is simplicity. Simplicity, as I’m defining it, is a step beyond mere filtering– it’s what we reach once we’ve refined, drilled down, and pared away all but the necessities of our social web and social media experiences.
What evidence is there that we’re turning toward Simplification?
Evidence supports this hypothesis on many levels. Here are a few reasons:
Even more anecdotal reports emphasize that the noise, even after filtering, is just becoming too much. The Inquisitr’s excellent Steven Hodson writes (emphasis added),
Steven’s right, but what he hypothesizes is already occuring– we are collapsing in on ourself, as we speak. We’re in the process of simplifying, pruning, cutting down, eliminating; doing whatever we can to make things simpler for ourselves.
The social cycle
It’s my belief that the web will soon begin back at where it started– with quality content. I’d like to introduce a little model I’m giving the working name “Social Cycle,” because that’s exactly what it is– the continuous circuit on which I think we’re firmly planted.
We can see the path that we’ve already taken, and hence where we’re headed. Starting at the top:
And, as you can see, the cycle begins again.
FriendFeed predicted the Filtering step, but will it help its users simplify? The first services to offer these options will soon find themselves on the top of the dogpile.
What do you think? Is Simplification next on the social web’s roadmap? I’d love to hear your thoughts.