Monday, May 14, 2007
Web 2.0 and Mardi Gras Magic
There is much debate regarding the value of Web 2.0 networks and sites. When judging a site's impact, the measurements are based on unique visitors, page views, and average time spent on the site. Winners are emerging in this Web 2.0 category. These sites are able to leverage the desire for users to be heard and recognized. Users are spending hours on sites like Digg and MySpace to increase their Digg ratings or in the case of MySpace their # of friends. A prime example of creating virtual rewards to captivate an audience is Second Life.
An interesting case study in group behavior is Mardi Gras. The Mardi Gras festival is a surreal experience. You have a huge influx of tourists traveling to New Orleans to party, eat crawfish, and perhaps watch a parade or two. The main event is the scene in the French Quarter. The chant "Show your tits" is all around you as you see hundreds of girls and women complying with this request in order to earn a few plastic beads. So why would these women get naked in front of thousands of people? It is a combination of the party atmosphere, the fact that everyone else is doing it, and the competitive spirit to have the best and prettiest beads. People are competitive by nature, and the Mardi Gras rating system currency is plastic beads. Whoever ends up with the most and best plastic beads is the winner.
Web 2.0 sites able to create an ecosystem where users are motivated to spend time and generate content to earn recognition from the site's community are the winners in the Web 2.0 world. How long will the Web 2.0 party last? Will the users sober up to find that the reward for all their hard work and time is virtual plastic beads?
Time will tell. In the meantime, let the party rage on.
Thoughts on Web 2.0? Add a comment.
There is much debate regarding the value of Web 2.0 networks and sites. When judging a site's impact, the measurements are based on unique visitors, page views, and average time spent on the site. Winners are emerging in this Web 2.0 category. These sites are able to leverage the desire for users to be heard and recognized. Users are spending hours on sites like Digg and MySpace to increase their Digg ratings or in the case of MySpace their # of friends. A prime example of creating virtual rewards to captivate an audience is Second Life.
An interesting case study in group behavior is Mardi Gras. The Mardi Gras festival is a surreal experience. You have a huge influx of tourists traveling to New Orleans to party, eat crawfish, and perhaps watch a parade or two. The main event is the scene in the French Quarter. The chant "Show your tits" is all around you as you see hundreds of girls and women complying with this request in order to earn a few plastic beads. So why would these women get naked in front of thousands of people? It is a combination of the party atmosphere, the fact that everyone else is doing it, and the competitive spirit to have the best and prettiest beads. People are competitive by nature, and the Mardi Gras rating system currency is plastic beads. Whoever ends up with the most and best plastic beads is the winner.
Web 2.0 sites able to create an ecosystem where users are motivated to spend time and generate content to earn recognition from the site's community are the winners in the Web 2.0 world. How long will the Web 2.0 party last? Will the users sober up to find that the reward for all their hard work and time is virtual plastic beads?
Time will tell. In the meantime, let the party rage on.
Thoughts on Web 2.0? Add a comment.
Labels: digg, mardi gras, myspace, second life, web 2.0
¶ 11:40 AM
