[e12e]

While I don't think the author thinks it forms an academic quality taxonomy anymore, I do like the ideas in "Players who Suits MUDs": http://mud.co.uk/richard/hcds.htm

Especially the idea that lack of friendly ux leads to more communication and cooperation between players. I don't think it's completely unreasonable that forcing network effects in "Mealsgate" (how do I even install pokemon go) might help form stronger network effects - which in turn is what surveillance machines/skinner boxes like snapchat needs in order to spread.

[chrisdbaldwin]

Snap's game is changing from getting people in the door to keeping them inside. No longer do they need that network effect to get people in the door -- they've escaped orbit. In fact, they're probably discovering that what worked for getting people in is also driving people out, and they've probably got someone with too much influence that is unwilling to accept that churn.

Yes, they can change their design for retention; do not expect it to work.

[m3rc]

I don't think you've provided any real evidence that it was specifically the design and UI that sold people on the app. I started using Snapchat right around their peak demo, 17/18, and I remember jumping on board because it was letting me do something other social media apps weren't, not because it was hard to use. The ephemeral nature of the content was exactly what I and my peers looked for in a landscape dominated by public-persona builders like Facebook, we didn't gravitate towards it because of the design.

You forget in your arguments about 'network' that literally every teenager uses the thing. There is no exclusivity, no special bond between users. Your entire high school would be plugged into the app.