Where will social networks be in 12 years? Ask Charlene Li

Jump to Comments

I’ve been thinking a lot about social networks lately, as I’ve been pulled ever-more-deeply into using Facebook to communicate with certain people in my life. I can’t say I like the idea of having to sign on to multiple networks to get to the various people I need to talk to, but FB does have its usefulness. For example, it’s a quick way to keep in touch with people who I otherwise would probably speak to about once a year. Those friends, you know the ones, that you like but that you can’t manage to work into your regular repertoire for some reason or another and eventually just lose touch with. The friendship evaporates slowly over time. Now that doesn’t have to happen. But on the flip side, keeping in touch with all those people who I like but don’t get to see or interact with in person too often reminds me that to so many people out there, I’m just another one of their long string of Facebook friends and really nobody special. That’s a part of me that I don’t particularly like, by the way, the part of me that feels bummed when I realize I’m just someone’s Facebook friend, not a real friend. But alas, that part of me exists. Anyway, Charlene Li of Forrester Research wrote (a lot) about her predictions for where social networks are headed and I will eventually make my way through all of it. For now, I’m just posting it up here so I can a) remember to read it eventually and b) share it with anyone who happens to read this. Here it is.

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized