Consumer Internet Fads

[akula]

So I've been surfing http://www.businessplanarchive.org/ to figure out if sites like youtube or myspace have any longevity

e.g. is anyone even gonna care about these shops in 5 years time

unfortunately, with plenty of examples like spree.com (over $13 million vc round), the answer is a resounding NO

Your thoughts?

[Aletheides]

There is longevity with myspace and youtube because they are fostering community. Spree.com looks like a wanna-be internet mall from '02 - that's one sad graph isn't it? lol

[Deejay]

I say no. Its just the current 'cool' thing. Something else will come along and repace it in 2-3 years, and that will be the new 'cool' thing.

Then the cycle will continue

[theBIGone]

I agree with Deejay

[Aletheides]

Face it, Myspace is the slum of the internet and like real ghettos it will never go away.

lolz

[sicnarftea]

i sincerely hope that myspace ends soon, I can't stand another eyesore from myspace any longer.

As for youtube, as long as they can find a way to monetize it, i see no reason for it to close down. Its a convinent way to find video information. As long as they continually find ways to improve it and integrate it into search engines, its should be ok.

I see youtube as an information source and not a community, unfortunately, community websites all die off sooner or later, unless they are of a niche background. As long as that niche is around, then that community website will continue to run

[NeeJam]

Lets face it myspace, youtube will be around for a long time unless real bad publicity about the sites come out and its enought to turn everyone off them and not use them ever again! Or however, another turn off for them would be if they started charging to view/use the sites becuase the way they are staying as popular as they are is becuase they are free and thats what makes them so popular becuase they are free!

[DaveAPN]

Myspace will continue to be a dominant player for years to come, if by nothing other than sheer momentum.

However, with that being said, one of the most interesting elements of the web is that there's still a long ways to go. I think we're seeing some interesting developments as all these "Web 2.0" technology sites start to mature, turn profits, and start relationships with established players.

Personally, I think we're a long way from a truly converged network model. I think myspace made a CRITICAL (and perhaps future dooming) mistake by providing exclusive mobile rights to Helio. In the short term it may pay off, but almost everyone is saying that the Web 2.1 (or maybe it's web 3.0?) evolution will revolve around mobile.

I don't believe YouTube is as entrenched as myspace is - not by a long shot. Not much of a community there - its more of a resource that lots of people happen to use. GooTube is certainly a bigger beast, but in my mind video portals don't have it locked in yet.

Just my Web 2.0 cents...

[The Stealthy One]

I do not believe either of these sites are entirely fads. Granted, many of their most popular features will not hold the interest of their target markets (13-25 year olds) for any long period of time. However, both sites enable certain activities - enablers can rarely be called fads.

[josi]

It seems that in this day and age( got that term from my gandma) people live longer and things that are populer have shorter lives. I feal that these sites will live a full life, but there life will be short. The more amazing will come along to take over. I think myspace will be on its way out within a few years. You tube has not hit its best years yet.

Just my 2 cents