The social phenomena of specialization is not a new – every human pursuit has a tendency to specialization it seems. It makes sense, really. Specialization allows for greater productivity, which is mutually beneficial for all those involved. It seems that social bookmarking and social networking sites are not to be left out in this tendency towards specialization.
Social bookmarking and social networking allow the user to interact with other users, and for the user to also contribute to the site. Over the past several years, generalized websites for these purposes have achieved great success. Now, specialized sites are popping up to “increase the productivity” of users. For example, the recent unveiling of Sphinn, the social bookmarking site for internet marketers, has been very well-received by the online community. And today, I learn that there is now a social networking site for people who like hip-hop. StreetCred is being endorsed by some big names in music, and even in beta has garnered some attention. There are many examples I could site, but these are some better examples of social networking / bookmarking that truly endeavor to fill a niche market.
Benefits of the specialization of Web 2.0
- Users will not have to sift through as much information they do not want
- Those submitting the information will reach the people who are looking for it much quicker
- Tighter social community based on shared interests and abilities
- The principle of comparative advantage would dictate that in fact users of the various social sites would indeed benefit from information being “produced” in “different places” by those who were especially in a position to produce it
- From a marketing perspective – the more places to market the better
Drawbacks of the Specialization of Web 2.0
- Encourages a myopic view by reducing the diversity of information the user sees
Some suggestions for good social bookmarking and social networking sites:
- Social bookmarking site with news about social bookmarking
- Social networking site for cowboys :)
- Social networking where you can list dance parties
- Social bookmarking site for spammers – maybe if we give them their own site, they won’t bother with the others… ?
Popularity: 1% [?]
