You'll simply be enabled to have you own identity portal where you'll choose what and whom is part of your Social Web.
From your portal you'll design what news you get, what videos, who is a member of your portal and what products and services you'll buy or sell from your portal.
The power of the social web will enable users freedom of choice for design content, participation and economic exchanges. Users will no longer need to jump around from one social network to another rather the existing social networks will feed the users content and people whom they choose to include in their social web portal. User enablement will usher in The Relationship Economy.
Pipe dream or Reality?
At Businessweek.com their report "Enter the Social Web" they describe the developments of major media in using social networks and they untangle the future of the social web in their "Best of the Web Special Report"
Business Weeks states "Who needs Facebook? Web users who want to find community with like-minded people no longer have to sign up with traditional social networking sites like MySpace, Friendster, or Facebook. They can build ties with friends and family on the sites they're using every day."
"A broad array of online players, from major media companies like Viacom (VIA) to e-commerce providers such as eBay (EBAY), are adding networking features to their online destinations, letting users create detailed Web identities, connect with people over common interests, share content, and, above all, socialize. "Our audience loves to connect through shared passions, whether it is the music that they love or the causes they believe in," says Christina Norman, president of Viacom-owned MTV, which on Sept. 20 announced the creation of think.MTV.com, a network that encourages youth activism."
"In some cases, such as with Yahoo's (YHOO) long-rumored "Y! Mash," which began invitation-only testing this month, and Playboy Enterprises' (PLA) newly launched PlayboyU, companies have created full-fledged MySpace competitors. Like News Corp.'s (NWS) leading social network, these sites revolve around keeping in touch with friends, making new contacts, and carving out a personalized Web space. In other cases, such as with MTV's site and StreetCred.com, a social network for hip-hop fans, the new sites are focused on developing communities around niche content or interests (BusinessWeek, 3/14/07)."
While the BW article focuses on major media entries into use of the Social Web our opening statement was focused on a user centric portal to magane all ones activity through a personal social web portal. We make this claim based on our own research and recent demonstration of this capability by a new start up which has developed the relevant technology. Because of NDA we cannot disclose the names but we can share that some of the major players have already thrown offers at this start up in the tens of millions of dollars even before they launch.
User centric freedom of choice, design and control will disrupt the current market models and the shift could be significant. The pictures in this post represent some of the well know leaders in this space accept someone is missing, you the users.
What say you?