[dasil003]

Middle three don't feel a major dependency. I would say:

- Twitter without iTunes Podcast Directory (because it killed Odeo, the parent business)

- Facebook without MySpace / Friendster

- Reddit without Digg / Slashdot

[CSMastermind]

Even then they might look different but someone would have had the idea for social media. Those exact companies might not exist or they might look different but it's not like the business model would go away.

Take away GPS and Uber is a fundamentally different product.

[throwaway14356]

If gov does identity and personal data is sensitive it might as well offer social connectivity?

[CSMastermind]

Honestly I'm half expecting the US government to offer an identity service at some point. I know it would probably be challenged on constitutional grounds but it would finally be a somewhat authoritative way to cut down on fake accounts.

[throwaway14356]

Instant value right there!

[trasz]

Reddit is more like Usenet than Slashdot.

I’d say Reddit is literally just a technically inferior version of Usenet.

[dasil003]

Fair point. I was including Slashdot in the Digg lineage, but it does not have social voting/ranking so I probably should have left it off.