Will Flickr and YouTube outlast MySpace and Facebook?

It also creates an interesting problem for social networks. No longer can you lock down people just because you know is on the network (myspace).

You’ll have to compete on user experiences and better tools to keep people loyal. Sites will have to earn people’s loyalties.

I think this is right on. That’s why I’m building a social network with a purpose.

One interesting thing to remember with regards to Facebook Vs. Flickr is that quite a few people use Facebook as their primary photo repository. Their photo app is pretty decent, and the people tagging feature is awesome. I think they have more uploaded pictures than any photo sharing site. That makes Facebook quite sticky.

I’ve wondered about this very thing myself. I’ve never been able to take Facebook’s talk of its “future” seriously because i can’t see it lasting longer than a handful of years before people get bored. Object-centric sites are much more likely to stick around.

Josh, thanks for the link!

Very true, developers like our company Triggit also build off of object centric networks rather then in them like FB. That helps perpetuate the network even when its in decline.

Udi makes a good point about Facebook’s photo app. Once Facebook apps start maturing, third parties could be the ones feeding the stickiness of Facebook. Once the platform grows up beyond throwing sheep, the value of the data stored will vastly outweigh the value of a blank slate elsewhere.

I hate to admit that I’m starting to drink the Facebook kool-aid…

I like flickr because it does not offer all that social stuff other sites have. I want to upload my photos there and don’t want to partipate in another social network there.

Astute observations, Zach. From my point of view object-centric social networking makes a lot of sense. The alternative is for people to physically travel to where the objects may be viewed/experienced in person–often not feasible. On the other hand, making new ego-centric (read: personal) contacts via the web may be a way to start, but moving to the next level with such relationships certainly requires getting together physically. We needn’t meet the creators of obbjects in person to enjoy appreciate them. Bottom line: I have no friends that I haven’t shared time with in the same physical space. I *do* admire; and continue to seek out the work of artists I will never meet in person.

I agree with the definition of MySpace as ‘Ego-centric’ but I don’t believe it is a fair analysis of FaceBook. I think FaceBook is a tool that reduces the overhead of keeping open communication channels with friends in the real world. It isn’t about the objects but the messages between them.

I’d also add my voice on the FaceBook side. I like the object vs ego centric framework, but I’d face FaceBook has quite a bit on the object side - for example, not just photos, but peoples wall posts, notes, visited cities and all sorts of other ‘objects’ that people add through the applications.

I think all four of the mentioned websites will survive for quite a while.

MySpace is still a valid place for bands and professionals to promote themselves. Sure they can do the same thing on FaceBook, but only registered users would be able to see their profiles.

FaceBook has gained more momentum than any other previous social networking websites. Most of us noticed how many other websites unsuccessfully tried to copy myspace. Remember hi5, friendster and the others? FaceBook delivers a quality interface with many features. Ingeniously they allow others to program apps to expand their capabilities for them. Now most users are hooked and would be much more hesitant to leave FaceBook than MySpace.

YouTube and Flickr are probably good enough at what they do to survive any new competitors. Their established niche would make them extremely difficult to knock off.

The life of any of these websites really depends on the strategies of any new competitors. Any website that allows you to easily import information/media from other sites has the potential to take over. The setup time is what will keep people hesitant to change. The longer these competitors wait, the tougher it will be to take over.

What we really need is a super site that will handle everything without limitations. FaceBook almost accomplished this, but fell a little short. With the addition of some anonymous user features, they could be here to stay.

But is Facebook really just an ego-centric network? Among the college demographic, photo sharing is the most used feature in Facebook. As such, isn’t Facebook then both an ego and object oriented network? And if that is true, then leaving behind Facebook requires not only network-reestablishment (as Fred calls out), but also restoring all of the key objects (in this case the own photos and their friends photos).

Great post here guys! Here’s hoping YouTube and Flickr will outlast MySpace and Facebook.

I only really use livejournal and bebo these days, but YouTube is fine for uploading and hosting small videos.

I think I am really stupid but what does this mean?
The comparison from the question is quite weird to me..is like asking if a boat will go faster than a car..maybe..so what ? One is a boat and will never compete against a car!
Or if Beckham plays golf better than Tiger Woods..am I missing the meaning of the question?

I’m not so sure about Flickr, but YouTube has become a brand in and if itself. Now that is not to say that brands don’t go extinct but they have carved a nice little niche out for themselves. The big problem YouTube has to face is like Chris commented, the file sizes need to be bigger. Otherwise people will indeed find a better site.

MySpace and Facebook? Sure they are well known but everyday there is another social website looking to jump on the gravy train. This has to be slowly water down their market share.

That’s my two cents,
Charles

These are very interesting information. Thank you for having published.

It is all going to depend on how the sites continue to grow and evolve. I think the novelty of Myspace and Facebook has worn off for many people, while Youtube and Flickr have tons of user generated content, and give you a good reason to go back and visit the site again. Youtube needs to work on becoming profitable, which I believe they are testing at this moment.

Thank you for taking the time to publish this information very useful!

It’s very useful rolodex, and the newsfeeds introduce concepts of peripheral participation (or social surveillance), but the game is in essence over.”