2007 will bring the end of social networking as we know it. It was fun while it lasted but it is over. Networking for the sake of networking is terrible and contra productive. Who really cares that you have 3000+ contacts? How does that benefit anybody?
The only social network I’m keeping is LinkedIn. And I’m not using it for its social networking aspect but for the way it lets me build a CV with recommendations of people I have worked with. Today I deleted my Orkut and OpenBC account and slimmed down my Preople and Hyves account.
I would have considered deleting my Hyves account but I know the founders and it feels a bit condescending to delete my account there. But even if I wanted to opt-out I can’t, they don’t offer a way to delete accounts.
So here is my bet: in 2007 most people will start feeling the same about Social Networking. The thrill of collecting new contacts will have faded. Most people that want to be connected will be connected and people will start concentrating on one Social Network that actually helps them in some way.
Some networks will disappear or morph into entertainment or game sites. Social Networking will be an interesting feature that will be integrated into certain services. Amazon might offer a tool to show you what books your connections are buying or iTunes will show you what your friends are listening too.
A good example of a social network that actually works is Plaxo. You are connected to all your contacts but not for the sake of being connected but for the sake of keeping their contact information up-to-date. I don’t care how many Plaxo contacts I have and I’m not collecting them either.
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16 Responses to “The end of social networking”
I see that OpenBC.com has today revelaed it’s about to become XING.com!
I also note that Linkedin’s traffic has soared since May of this year when they made it easier to connect to people.
I still think that Preople.com has great potential though Boris!
LinkedIn’s traffic only went through the roof because the switched from SSL to non-SSL and Alexa cannot see SSL traffic. So this is a statistical artifact, if you want to put it that way.
Martin.
[...] In my previous post I think I explained a bit that just powering relationships isn’t going to be exciting enough in 2007. You will also have to sync addressbooks, provide music recommendations or do something else with your service because just connecting to a few hundred people isn’t enough. [...]
I removed myself entirely from Hyves and Linkedin because of privacy reasons. Maybe I do *not* want just anyone to know everything about me in just a few clicks.
How in the Heck did you delete yourself from OpenBC anyway? I can’t find the opt-out option anywhere, and I mean: I make these kind of interfaces :|
Hi Robert, it wasn’t easy. These services have nothing to win by making it easy to unsubscribe. But I searced help and they have a term for it. Something like ‘downgrading your free account’ or ‘canceling your non-premium memberschip’. Try that…
I deleted my Hyves-account by going to the FAQ. There in some weird sub-menu there actually is a link to the Deletion page.
Wow found it, thanks.
[...] Some interesting things have happened since I wrote a post titled “the end of social networking“. I mentioned OpenBC which changed its name to Chick Pink Ming Dinq Zinc Zinq which made a lot of People search for blogs about OpenBC which means I received a resonable ammount of traffic during the weekend. [...]
[...] Op Marketingfacts haalt Jeroen Bertrams een opmerking aan van Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten, voorzitter van de IPAN. Voorzitter IPAN voorspelt einde Hyves? Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten, voorzitter van de IPAN, voorspelt het einde aan de populariteit van social networking sites zoals Hyves. De interesse in het “najagen†van vele vrienden zal dratisch afnemen. Op zijn persoonlijke blog schrijft hij: “I would have considered deleting my Hyves account but I know the founders and it feels a bit condescending to delete my account there. But even if I wanted to opt-out I can’t, they don’t offer a way to delete accounts. So here is my bet: in 2007 most people will start feeling the same about Social Networking. The thrill of collecting new contacts will have faded. Most people that want to be connected will be connected and people will start concentrating on one Social Network that actually helps them in some way.†[...]
[...] Yesterday I interviewed by Marie-Jose Klaver from NRC. She was writing an article about Social Networking in business and had read my earlier post titled the end of social networking. The article will be printed today in NRC and in NRC Next. I haven’t read it yet but if you do please let me know how it turned out. [...]
[...] Op Marketingfacts haalt Jeroen Bertrams een opmerking aan van Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten, voorzitter van de IPAN. Voorzitter IPAN voorspelt einde Hyves? Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten, voorzitter van de IPAN, voorspelt het einde aan de populariteit van social networking sites zoals Hyves. De interesse in het “najagen†van vele vrienden zal dratisch afnemen. Op zijn persoonlijke blog schrijft hij: “I would have considered deleting my Hyves account but I know the founders and it feels a bit condescending to delete my account there. But even if I wanted to opt-out I can’t, they don’t offer a way to delete accounts. So here is my bet: in 2007 most people will start feeling the same about Social Networking. The thrill of collecting new contacts will have faded. Most people that want to be connected will be connected and people will start concentrating on one Social Network that actually helps them in some way.†[...]
1. If you think that collecting contacts is synonymous to social networking, you’re a lousy networker.
2. People subscribing to several SERIOUS networks at the same time AND deploying sufficient activity on both (or more) of them already ARE rare, and will remain so in 2007, 2008 and 2027.
3. Social softwares that only facilitate having some kind of trvial fun are transitory as per definition, and probably WILL have a short life cycle.
4. LinkedIN is NOT a network. It’s a directory of people who are open for job offers, and for recruiters.
5. Good to know that knowing ME didn’t stop you from canceling your openBC membership. I’ll remember that one.
There, NOW you’ve done it! You’ve upset the Big Stumpel! Amsterdam is a small town, buddy, and it seems you’re skinny little ass is on the LIST!
[...] In september I wrote a blog post titled “The end of social networking“. It was quoted on a few blogs and I got a lot of, euh, feedback from people who either slightly disagreed or fanatically agree. Anyway, the title was misleading because I didn’t exactly say that I thought that all Social Networks would end. What I said (or wanted to say) was that social networking just for the sake of social networking is not going to be interesting very long. The novelty will be gone. Unless… [...]
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