Scoble Explains Why He Follows 20,000 on Twitter

Actually, the headline is kind of roundabout.  Scoble is actually talking about “early-adopters” vs. “late-adopters”

“I’ve seen this discussion happen EVERY TIME there’s a new technology. I remember back in 1977 that only nerds could use personal computers. Very few people (not even Steve Jobs or Bill Gates) understood just how big that would become.

I remember the days when email was only used by the nerds who had access to Unix terminals at universities or research labs.

I remember the days when people said “IM would never be used in enterprises.” Today it’s built into Lotus Notes and Microsoft Exchange. Seriously. They did say that.”

And then he gets to the part about following 20,000 on Twitter:

“This is why I follow 20,000 Twitterers. I want to study what early adopters are doing and thinking. Twitter is the best place — by far — to do that.”

Personally, I can’t imagine following 20,000 people on Twitter.  I follow about 150 people of which only about 20 are what I would call active.  I’m not sure what percentage of Scoble’s Tweeters are regular but even at the same ratio he must be seing a constant stream of commentary.  If he can actually synthesize that information AND still get anything else done in his day he’s a superhero.

Facebook Obituaries Being Written

Sure, it could just be a swipe at a giant, but Scoble is no slouch himself so when he asks if Facebook is doomed, it’s probably worth taking note.

Among his issues:

“As much as I like Mark Zuckerberg, I can not recommend Facebook to anyone until they fix this problem. There’s ABSOLUTELY NO WAY someone’s account should be deleted without recourse, if Facebook wants to be seen as a utility.”

And he’s not the only one.  Over at the BBC:

“Facebook – it’s so over. That’s been the tenor of most of the commentary since Thursday’s figures showing a slight dip in Facebook’s UK users. The general feeling is that the kids, with their minute attention spans, have already tired of the social networking site and moved on to something more hip and happening. I think the opposite is true – that Facebook’s new wave of older users have decided it is just not worth the bother and are now leaving it to the kids.”

Now, it may be true that Facebook is dying, though I think it might be a bit soon to dig the grave.  However, the more interesting question is who is going to be next to grab the brass ring.  Will there be yet another “facebook” or are we witnessing the end of the massive social network to be replaced by niche networks all somehow linked together into a larger web…oh, like the internet!