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Appreciate the thoughtful commentary. I'm curious if you're suggesting that the only way for a new social network to overcome the "cold start" problem is to re

by holler 5y ago

Appreciate the thoughtful commentary. I'm curious if you're suggesting that the only way for a new social network to overcome the "cold start" problem is to restrict access along some strata at the right ratio to incentivize the largest audience at the bottom to join? Do you think a social network that starts off as entirely "open" to everyone would be challenged due to lack of a "fomo" factor, or is a quality product with the right vision enough?

motohagiography 5y ago
There needs to be a lobby. It can be an open lobby, but it's the funnel. A new social network isn't something you just create, it's the effect of something else. So it's not about restricting access, as that assumes an imaginary level of demand. It's about leveraging a core group to attract a larger crowd who you then selectively elevate into an in-group, typically based on competence and personal investment of some kind. A "product," isn't a technology, it's the thing that meets a need, and if you don't have that need, your technology is meaningless. The need must be concrete, as there is no magic ratio that will fool people, even if there are a few theoretical ratios about equillibrium changes in networks. This guy has thought a lot about it and articulates it better than I could in a comment: https://alexdanco.com/2021/03/19/how-scenes-work-with-jim-oshaughnessy/ https://alexdanco.com/2021/03/19/how-scenes-work-with-jim-os...
- holler 5y ago
  > So it's not about restricting access, as that assumes an imaginary level of demand. It's about leveraging a core group to attract a larger crowd who you then selectively elevate into an in-group, typically based on competence and personal investment of some kind. That makes sense, so finding, attracting, and retaining a core group of early adopters is really key. > We talked about how startups are a scene, and why designing a local innovation economy from scratch – even if you think you ‘have all the incentives correctly’ – never works. (from the article) That's a really interesting observation, and I tend to agree, perhaps the antithesis of "build it and they will come"? Going to listen to the podcast now :D

by holler 5y ago

motohagiography 5y ago

There needs to be a lobby. It can be an open lobby, but it's the funnel. A new social network isn't something you just create, it's the effect of something else. So it's not about restricting access, as that assumes an imaginary level of demand. It's about leveraging a core group to attract a larger crowd who you then selectively elevate into an in-group, typically based on competence and personal investment of some kind. A "product," isn't a technology, it's the thing that meets a need, and if you don't have that need, your technology is meaningless. The need must be concrete, as there is no magic ratio that will fool people, even if there are a few theoretical ratios about equillibrium changes in networks. This guy has thought a lot about it and articulates it better than I could in a comment: https://alexdanco.com/2021/03/19/how-scenes-work-with-jim-oshaughnessy/ https://alexdanco.com/2021/03/19/how-scenes-work-with-jim-os...

holler 5y ago
> So it's not about restricting access, as that assumes an imaginary level of demand. It's about leveraging a core group to attract a larger crowd who you then selectively elevate into an in-group, typically based on competence and personal investment of some kind. That makes sense, so finding, attracting, and retaining a core group of early adopters is really key. > We talked about how startups are a scene, and why designing a local innovation economy from scratch – even if you think you ‘have all the incentives correctly’ – never works. (from the article) That's a really interesting observation, and I tend to agree, perhaps the antithesis of "build it and they will come"? Going to listen to the podcast now :D