A great example of how the better product doesn't always win. There are just too many factors (like timing and network effects in this case).
https://www.theverge.com/2012/2/7/2782947/path-ios-app-user-...
I know it seems pedantic, but you cannot grow a social network with just a platform, despite how amazing it is. This fails time and time and time again.
You need a story that sets it apart from existing stuff that brings in people. Whether it's some disruption narrative, paying shills (a.k.a influencers), or whatever, that's what's required.
The world is moving faster than ever with entertainment and attention spans. Facebook is already showing signs of fizzling out. I don't believe it will die, just like MySpace and Digg are still going, they're just not the hot shit they once were. I think we're pretty much hitting the point now where Snapchat and Instagram are "hotter" than Facebook, and Facebook is running on momentum for a fair while longer before being "just another social network".
Instagram and Snapchat are in their peak right now. Everyone under 30 has both, and most over 30 at least have an account to follow their kids, friends, whatever. I think 10 years is even optimistic, I wouldn't be surprised if another transition happened within 5.
When Instagram and Snapchat lose their excitement, the next thing will come along. There's hundreds of startups already working on trying to be the next big social network. It's a given it'll happen eventually.
(I'm not in the industry and don't know stats, I don't use social networks other than following people on Twitter for updates, this is just the ramblings of someone watching it all for 20+ years)
- the difficulty of changing services for the technically challenged.
- Facebook's technical prowess (much different than MySpace was)
- Facebook's variety outside of a pure social network (they are a news app, craiglist/classifieds, meetup/events, Picasa 10.0/photo app, messenger, and a myspace clone, all rolled into one, with new services added all of the time). Probably missed something else.
Social networks just don't seem to be as sticky as you would imagine them to be. The network effect sure helps your grow fast - but it isn't a very powerful moat, especially when platforms tend to decrease in quality with increase in users.
Makes you wonder why smaller family or close-friends type social networks don't work. I guess the value isn't there to build it because it can't sprawl in the same way as other social networks.
Paid can avoid that, but of course has it a lot harder to get people to sign up, so those options tend to grow very slowly, often too slowly.
Probably because Facebook Groups covers this use case pretty well and everyone already has a Facebook account. That's my guess.
Because they are run by for profit companies, operating in a capitalistic framework.
That is one of the core pillars of free software as envisioned by Stallman - software that can truly serve the needs of the people, because it is not subject to those pressures.
A world where your girlfriend’s family could painlessly deploy their own such service for just a few users and not have to worry about a company shutting it down whenever they feel like it would be wonderful.
https://ello.co/ https://www.cnet.com/news/meet-ello-the-social-network-that-...
The founders' initial plan was to create an artists' and designers' platform, and they've pivoted hard back in that direction over the past couple of years.
It's a bit unfortunate that the first thing that comes to my mind when Path is mentioned is the address book upload by the app without asking users.
I don't think there's no space for such an app now, since more people (relatively speaking) are aware of and are concerned about large networks like Facebook and their impact on privacy and society. Coming back with a privacy focused offering that targets those who want more meaningful interactions with a limited number of people might get some traction, even if it remains niche.
- 9.17.2018 : Notice on Path service discontinuation
- 10.1.2018: Unable to download/update the app in iTunes and Google Play
- 10.18.2018: Termination of the Service (Unable to access to Path)
- 11.15.2018: Path related customer service will be closed
I remember a friend used it years ago with her partner as a private social network of sorts which I thought was interesting. Then that was the last I ever heard of Path until now.
Sadly it did not take off, which on the other hand is comprehensible, having other options such as Facebook and Instagram where most of the friends and connections are.