Medium vs. Twitter
Have you used Medium the >140 version of Twitter? During the early days of social media, platforms such as WordPress and Blogger offered technology and networks to anyone with something to say. Over the years, blogging would give rise to a new generation of authoritative, engaging and entertaining voices that might not otherwise found their stage. At the same time, new social channels would emerge that would introduce a subtler more rapid form of publishing that focused on conversations and real-time sharing. Twitter would lead the way for a micro-blogging format which as we all know gave voices and connected audiences to millions and millions more.
What is the state of blogging vs. micro-blogging and does Medium introduce a new layer of meso-blogging?
Geeks vs. ?: Tech Culture War in San Francisco
If you lived in San Francisco during the famous days of Web 1.0 and the dotbomb bust, the bitter taste and hazy memories it left still linger. But now with the rise of Web 2.0, social media and entirely new waves of technology booms, San Francisco and Silicon Valley is harking back to the days of once-forgotten lore. Although this time, some argue, it’s worse. Legions of bright and hopeful geeks are rushing to San Francisco for the big gold rush of our time. Flush with cash and dreams, long-time residents and local establishments are unwillingly thrust into throes of change. For reasons that are justified and others that aren’t, some of those not in the tech community are starting to fight back and protest tech’s new footprint.
Is this behavior justified and is the tech community helping or hurting itself? Where are local government officials in all of this?
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Where do you think local officials should be? Should they be regulating San Francisco to kill the boom or move it to other states (who’d be happy to have it)? Or enabling it with new infrastructure, housing projects and incentives?
Here in Oxford and Thames Valley we have an interesting alternative. DataSift, for example, a fast growing marketing analytics company, is SF based but does all its datascience here as top datascientists are impossible to find at sensible prices in the Valley. Is this the future model?
I think we at least need to think about increasing supply of housing…
https://twitter.com/chrismessina/status/571141507576524801
One of the core competitive advantage theories is regression to the mean. For how long with SF have this draw? 5 years? 10? We’ve seen in Detroit what happens when a boom runs out – empty housing and a ghost town. Will SF be the next rust belt?
It’s a great question and example Peter. The one thing that SF has is resilience. There seems to have always been another gold rush….
Is it forever?
It’s actually not the question to answer in the short term.
San Francisco commercial rents to surpass NYC by the end of 2015. How high will the cost per square foot go commercially? I mean, by the end of this year we are looking at almost $70 per square foot – up 18% as compared to NYC rents up 6.5%.
Concerning, as the last time the office market saw such growth was during the boom in Internet stocks that peaked in 2000. Although, the percentage of growth in San Francisco seems more sustainable than in 1999 to 2000, where San Francisco led all U.S. markets starting in 1999, with average rents soaring 79% in a year to approximately $74 per square foot in 2000, before rates crashed to $31.00 at the end of 2001. But, history may be repeating itself.
What do you think Brian?
Interesting points you raise David.
The difference this time around is that revenue, however you want to define it, is driving this current trend whereas before, other factors left aspects of the economy hollow. As a commercial tenant of SF property, I’m paying attention.
Thanks Brian. Should be interesting to watch. Have an awesome day! Enjoy the Bay area. I love Mill Valley 🙂
@briansolis:disqus, I think the point you made about the new Medium changes evolving the product is spot on. My concern is this update removes the “social pressure” put on people when it comes to creating thoughtful content. The thing that made Medium great in my opinion was the consistent quality of the ideas being shared and the leveling of the playing field as far as displaying those ideas go. Now that it has become more “short-form” my concern is people won’t take the time to structure their ideas before publishing. Basically creating yet another corner of the internet overrun by advertisers and impulsive commentary instead of reimagining journalism as we know it, which was one of its earlier promises. That said, if anyone can reconcile these two competing ideas it’s Ev Williams.
Cheers Garrio. Thanks for listening and commenting…