Aug 09 2008
User-Generated Content [book]
Too often I’ve seen this happen - a cutting-edge social media book becomes out of date a year after the publishing date. This 2007 book is no exception.
MySpace is given a lot of pages, while Facebook is barely mentioned in passing. Texting as a social phenomenon is ignored, while Twitter is not named at all. LinkedIn, Wickipedia, uTube and Flickr get their due discussion, however, as does the possible future of podcasting.
The short chapters are set up as compare/contrast essays, for example, discussing the merits of the Wickipedia vs the Brittanica, whether blogging hurts or helps journalism and whether or not social networks are doomed to failure.
While these are all fascinating topics, the writing here is pedantic and scholarly. I had forgotten how much I dislike the academic voice. Reading this took me back to the days of college sociology assignments.
It’s not that the information is useless - there are good points made in each chapter. And it’s a quick read - I was able to start and finish this in one afternoon. I just feel that if someone is seeking of-the-moment information on social media, then a “just published” book might be more appropriate. Or better yet, seek current websites blogging about social media on the Internet!
User-Generated Content (At Issue Series)
Stumble it!
I think the only sensible way to write a book like this is to talk about what social sites have in common, where they might go, things like that. And stay away from specifics as much as possible. Things that will quickly be dated.
Or better yet, don’t publish a book at all that will be out of date by the time it’s published. Start a blog instead.
I so totally agree with you Dan. The book talks a lot about Friendster, which, at this point, is already dead. Social networks rise and fall, depending on what arrives on the scene that is better than before.
I could even make predictions of which networks will make it or not - I think LinkedIn has a great niche, for example. Both MySpace and Facebook will probably both remain popular - they seem to attract different audiences. And I am guessing Twitter will continue to outperform Plurk and Pownce, mainly because the majority of people are already on Twitter, and who wants to move once they’ve got a following?
I think Friendfeed is a good idea but am not sure where it will go - it doesn’t seem to be taking off. But what do I know? lol
I also am guessing that uTube and Flickr are here to stay, simply because they have the legions of fans already.
Not to say that a killer app won’t come along and dethrone someone big. It’s happened before.
The whole space of social networks is very similar to any ecosystem. As long as the environment stays stable we’ll have something like the Facebook, Flickr, MySpace animals. They’ll wax and wane in popularity but have established themselves for the longhaul - ie next 3+ years. But a small addition to technology can change things drastically. No one knows what that might, could be, but it will happen and then Facebook and it’s ilk could be come dodos.