Social Network Platforms

With the exceptional success of the facebook f8 development platform rumours have been abound that other social networking sites will follow their lead and build their own platforms. The rumours included hi5, myspace, linkedin and google. Three of those now look like they are about to become reality, and soon.

Myspace and hi5 are the two that seem to be imminent. FT broke the myspace rumour in June and another again today by TechCrunch. They claim that third party developers have been contacted for input on the system and they also claim that they have info that the platform will be launched next week at the web 2.0 conference in San Francisco.

Hi5 already has a portion of its API posted and they have a small group of developers already making widgets and application for the network. So far they have said that facebook star developers Rock You and Slide are involved.

Also it has been supposedly leaked by a secret industry meeting (and then reported here by TechCrunch) that google will open up a platform for developers starting with their social networking site orkut and igoogle. They may also have plans to open it up for their other apps later on too. This is supposed to start on November 5, 2007!

And Linkedin? There have been indications from their CEO that they are going to do something but it doesn't sound like it is clear what or when. They are much more business focused so most of the fun apps and ideas will not likely work there. New business-like apps and innovation is going to have to be developed for linkedin.

What does all this mean? For one, we still have social networking 'silos'. A handful of closed networks are ruling the roost and the dream of an open social graph is not yet apparent. One where the Internet itself is the platform and all networks can integrate so it won't matter which network any friend or colleague is on. A social graph without walled gardens where everyone can connect with anyone they have a relationship with. It looks like a pipe dream for now and the top networks are going to have to fight it out for some time yet.

As for the third party platforms, right now facebook is the only game in town for third parties to access the social graph. Once the other networks launch their platforms however, the game is going to change. There is going to be flurry of innovation for the developers to access hundreds of millions of new users for their applications. It won't be easy though as they are going to have to maintain multiple sets of code and adhere to standards and rules (these networks do have a lot of rules and have ultimate control of course). Also how will the networks treat their developers? Will they compete with them and just develop the best ideas and functionality themselves? Or will they support and nurture them and prosper alongside them?

Fasten your seatbelts, it is going to be a fun ride!