[crafter]

But do we really need an open source social network? Do we need more/different online social networks when there is so much out there already?

Why don't people just use preexisting technologies like email? What's the obsession with social networks anyway? Let's rethink this and come up with something radically different.

There is a alternative, all inclusive solution right under our noses...

[biomechanica]

Well, the very first of these social networks is, I would say, the Internet itself. Facebook, MySpace and co., are/were basically trying to bring all that traffic to a single place where they could take advantage of the sharing.

I agree, there should be something created completely different. However, I don't think that can really be achieved. I think it can be made to look different but in the end it will just be a different implementation of the same thing.

I think the next big thing won't be necessarily social networking. Social is basically an expected feature of all new software. There is nothing new to be had there. People like to share things and talk with friends, meet new people, etc. That won't change.

The appearance will change and the technology that becomes big will have all of that stuff in it. I just hope it's free software and disconnected from a centralized source.

Personally, I think the next big thing will be accidentally created by the "the people" and not some corporation.

[crafter]

I don't think that can really be achieved

I'm sorry, I didn't understand that part. Is that another language?

[biomechanica]

Well, in the context of making a new Facebook that is as successful, no I don't think it can be achieved. I go on to explain what can be achieved, though.