Ask HN: What will be the next big social network?

8 points·allfou··5 comments

We had friendster, myspace, facebook/instagram, twitter, snapchat. How do you see the future of social networks?

Isn't IPv6 a good enough social network. Everyone buys a static IP somehow, and instead of a page/wall/space they provide APIs and webpages. With enough battery efficiency, maybe handheld computers (smartphones, tablets, etc.) will be the most powerful in aggregate (if not already) category in computing. Torrenting may be a really good way to bootstrap this as well.

we need a open decentralized network. if people are serious about it, they will set up a 501c3 for the infrastructure and have a multilayered approach to users and data.

Also this is a techno-optimist position, the realist in me will always say follow the kids(pre-teens/teens) or a specific niche. we have ephemeral pics/videos now, next will be something even more "me" centric

What I hope is instead of "me" centric it is idea/knowledge centric. That would be preferred imo. It almost seems utopian to me: A decentralized network with knowledge and ideas at the forefront.

But how many times will this be tried? How many well-meaning Facebook alternatives will launch and fail, die slow deaths, or become sustained but marginal destinations? We have the technology, but that apparently isn't enough.

It'll be the more focused networks like Pinterest and Nextdoor that are in the process of becoming platforms.

They still have a ton of growth in them both in terms of users and in terms of product.

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