Bored With Web 2.0? Demand Change
In April, Umair Haque posted a manifesto on his blog on the Harvard Business Publishing web site where he called for today's investors and start-ups to start building applications to "change the world" instead of just making apps that make money. He challenged Silicon Valley to find a problem to fix that will change the world for the better and then pledged that he would help by providing free consulting. Recently, he revisited this topic which he was due to speak on at this year's Supernova conference.
The Manifesto
In this latest post, a summary of the speech Haque had planned for the conference, he claimed that 21st century capitalism needs a revolution. As businesses focus solely on profits, large part's of the world's population still fight extreme poverty. And our wealth, he says, isn't even sustainable:
We're richer, but that wealth doesn't reflect durable, authentic economic value - which is hitting fast diminishing returns. The growth that we're pursuing is neither sustainable - nor is it, in many ways, real growth at all.
This manifesto for change comes at an important time, when a recent, but growing trend of Web 2.0 ennui is beginning to strike the citizens of the social media landscape. Even VC Fred Wilson was recently caught wondering if he was "bored with Web 2.0," saying:
But I am a bit jealous of friends who are working on finding and funding alternative energy or biomedical technologies that have the potential to address the serious problems facing the world. At times it seems that helping the web become more social, intelligent, mobile, and playful is not as impactful.
Looking For Meaning
Our recent obsessions of late with all the latest new shiny objects, while fun, often leave us with an emptiness that comes from participating in what's ultimately inconsequential behavior in a world that's filled with turmoil. Thanks to the non-stop information flow coming in from all areas of the web, we're acutely aware of the suffering that's going on in countries with political turmoil, of how the latest natural disaster has torn apart people's lives, and even what challenges the disadvantaged populations from within our own borders face.
While a healthy dose of social media is fun and sometimes informative, it rarely taps into our desire to feel as if what we're doing has meaning or purpose. Being "social" online tends to be a casual activity where you make friends or share news, and not one where you're fighting to solve the world's problems. (Although we did discover a few ways to use social media for social good not too long ago, they're often few and far between). Web 2.0 is is like Internet candy (well, maybe not as sweet as lolcats and YouTube), but it's definitely not, for the most part, a satisfying meal.
Maybe that's as it should be - there's nothing wrong with having fun - but perhaps it's time for a shift. The social tools we know and love won't go away, but do we need more and more of the same? In the end, Web 2.0 is supposedly not making any money anyway, so why not use our knowledge to build tools to better the world instead?
Ideas Exist, But Where's the Money?
The ideas are already out there. Take for example, this post by Paul Lamb on MediaShift Idea Lab. He envisions a mobile app that could empower poor communities through the power of technology.
The fictional app called LOCOBEAT makes social media and collaboration a real tool for change for empowerment. The app, designed for use by the overlooked, low income segments of the U.S. population would map the neighborhood to provide users with safe routes to work and school; send alerts which post to the map when new job openings are available; the social network of the apps' users would keep them connected so as to communicate to each other about possible job postings, like a mobile LinkedIn; the app's music sharing service would let users rate music, and that is used by the community to promote local artists; text messages from the grocer would be sent to alert users when items go on sale; etc.
Alexander Vanelas also reminded us about Muhammed Yunus's idea for Microcredits, small loans to help poor gain employment.
Those are just a couple of ideas, and LOCOBEAT only lacks the people willing to fund and develop it. But where are the rest?
Time To Change?
In a post on SeedWatcher, Marc Hustvedt responds to Haque's article and ponders "how can we use Twitter to fight global hunger?" However, the real question may be "can we use Twitter to fight global hunger?" Will the tools of change really be the Twitters and Facebooks of today, or will we need to embrace a whole new paradigm designed just for the purpose of change? Isn't about time we put our money where our mouth is and find out?
Image Credits: Boredom: ArSiSa7; Shift: emilyd10; Money: TWCollins
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I am astounded that each day, as I read the 90 or so feeds that cover the industry, that I am less and less piqued or astounded by what is offered as Web20 news.
However, I am very interested in new technology for creating and delivering rich internet applications. These new companies are making the last mile to functionality more accessible for mid-lever business analysts and SME programmers. I dont have a list here, but you know who I mean. Bungee, Iceberg, Gemstone, Heroku, it's a mix. Something big is going to happen in creating and delivering applications that will, someday, and for a certain class of Web accessible apps, make it easier to get "there".
@Alan: That is a good point - I'm also very interested in how Web 2.0 concepts are impacting the business world.
Hey Great post, i think by looking at social media and tech most people are seeing the $$$ signs. But it can be used for a whole lot more, we can fix the problems of the world.
On you question, Off the top of my head something like twitter could be used for:
- Reporting / Journalism in places without PC or other forms of communication.
- Lower income business people(For example people selling fruit/food/fish etc.) could use it as a broadcast tool to their customers.
There are most likely tons of other uses we could think up.
Let the paradigm shift! Too much talent and energy is being wasted by entrepreneurs who see opportunity only in terms of "get". There is a lot of opportunity in our world to "give" and make a better life (including having fun) for everyone.
Well, I do not believe Web 2.0 concepts are capable to solve some of the world's toughest problems out there... However I do believe Web 2.0 concepts could enable (a few) people getting things done with spending less money. But that's very much happening at the moment already. So for me, nothing new! For now...
Yes, Web 2.0 is getting stale.
What this article fails to reflect upon is the degree to which fanboy blogs, including this one, consistently play into the hype that is web 2.0, sustaining cheap concepts and promoting BS business models in order to get "eyeballs" ... I haven't ONCE seen an article on here about tech related to global warming, hunger, topsoil depletion, water scarcity, the war in Iraq ... I've probably seen 1000 about FriendFeed (which is just a mirror for the other always scintillating topic: Twitter)
Be the change you want to see!
Here in Sao Paulo - Brazil, two post graduation students have been developing an open source software similar to locobeat proposal for 2 years.
http://vanzolini.wordpress.com/2008/05/26/gps-educativo/
Sorry, the post is in portuguese.
I'd love to talk to Umair about some relevant ideas but he has never replied to my emails in the past heh.
The potential for change in our society via social media has just begun. First came lots of inexpensive printing presses, then came Tom Paine. The world doesn't quite recognize what power it has yet - but it's beginning to recognize it. We have the potential to change human society more than it's been changed in thousands of years. We have at our fingertips the technology that will help us both to survive and to thrive. I will cover this and more in the chapter on "The New Society" in the book that I am writing at Content Nation. The world is a nation of publishers. Be a citizen.
Who is that hawt chick pictured at the top of this post?
Great post! I would say that even when the web apps themselves aren't changing the world, companies have the chance to do so. For example, at Needish, we realize that while posting a need and getting help without searching is something really handy that will leave people with more time, it's not exactly purifying water and curing cancer (although you could post that you need to do those things and form a team to go do them!). That said, as a company we're working on a policy to figure out how we use profits when/if they start coming in both for Needish and for our related project, Helperman, as well as generally trying to spread a helpful attitude.
In that way, Web 2.0 isn't different from any other company, but as so many new companies are web-related and also filled with young people who have grown up with threats like global warming and AIDS, I think as an industry we have a chance to make a name for ourselves by being socially conscious rather than just being rich kids who had a brilliant idea and retired early to hang out on their yachts.
There's an increasing number of emerging platforms that provide space for social collaboration and change - be it for charitable or other projects. As the web generation's maturing and looking for more meaninful activities these sites are finding more and more ground. Let me just mention a few: bringlight.org, change.org, idealist.org, takingitglobal.org, kiva.org, openarchitecturenetwork.org and last but not least amazee.com. So, no reason to get bored!
Who wants to read about microcredit sites (which could be the true social network for the world) when there's so much great bitchy content between Arrington and Scoble re: Twitter and FriendFeed?
Scoble and Arrington will never be interested in LOCOBEAT-like apps, unless those apps somehow serve as soapboxes for themselves.
So a solution for all of this: let's make Scoble and Arrington the king and queen of Kiva, and set up a live real-time feed where they can argue about who should be queen. Every feed reader will tune in, and users can drop a quid in the jar to bypass the six-second time delay.
This is 'one of those articles', that I've been longing to read. My mind is ready for a long walk + think. Thank you!
@Christopher - oh my, you crack me up!
I have been following this and felt that it was time to help out. I have recently created a web application that will make a difference to alot of people around the world. With the right revenue model and the "Pay it Forward Attitude" and some help from advisers, I think I/we can make a difference.
It is time for all of us Web Dev's, Artist, Designer and Programmers to use our skills and try and help out the people who could really use it.
When you look at the statistic that every 6 seconds a child dies of starvation, I am motivated to do something about it.
My liquidity event is about using the skills have to try to make someones life easier.
"Greatness comes to those who serve" Martin Luther King jr via the bible ;)
Another great post Sarah. Ironically I just wrote one without reading yours first and was amazed that you were so tuned to the boredom.
I also bragged on you guys for keeping up the content pace whilst others seem to be faltering :)
The trackback up there is my rendition :)
Always,
Phil
This is a fantastic and long-overdue discussion. What many of these internet-specific questions really get to is what should be the larger purpose of software. What human values
should software embody, and how should developers then integrate those values into code?
http://thenerfherder.blogspot.com/2008/06/web-debate-on-saving-world.html
Hi Sarah,
I'm working on http://www.decisionsforheroes.com as a part of the effort to organize the world's rescue operations. It fit's Umair's manifesto nicely.
-Robin.
Our obsessions with the "latest new shiny objects..leave us with an emptiness". No new technology will fill this emptiness, but technology definitely CAN and should be used for good.
Emily Williams touched on one of my core beliefs that all companies should dedicate a percentage of profits to good causes, to help "'save the world' instead of just...making money." In this way every company, whether they offer a service or product that is changing the world or not, can make a difference with their profits.
I once heard about a study of Harvard graduates that became wealthy. The result of the long-term study was that those who used their wealth for good causes still had their wealth, their health and their families. Those who used their wealth only for their own self-centered purposed lost their health, their wealth and their families.
Emptiness at its core stems from a lack of purpose in life. True purpose comes as we understand who we are, why we are here and where we are going after this life. Emptiness in life is eliminated when we know what God wants us to be and do and we try our best to do it. Eliminate the emptiness and find the ability to truly "change the world" at www.mormon.org.