I just can’t see how these market leaders can stick to their closed stances on portability and openness.

It just seems that people can move the next great social network that fully embraces data portability and platform development openness.

I think we’ll see new players step up and do it right soon enough and the users will follow.

I agree with you, Kin, that the networks that embrace openness will rise to the top (although look how long it’s taken open-source software to gain a more mainstream acceptance), but I don’t think it’ll be because new players step up and users will follow. I think users will force the issue and then networks will adopt the platforms, designs, and usability that users demand — that seems to be exactly what’s happening with Facebook and the Data Portability Workgroup. They’ve reluctantly stepped to the table because they’ve heard the groundswell of demand from their user base, but they continue to hedge their bets waiting to see if they will offer true personal-data portability until the hordes are at the gates carrying torches.

Another important question to ask is what is the incentive for companies like Facebook to share data?

You’re saying it’s either share or lost users to better more open alternatives, right? What about network size though? I wonder if Facebook (unfortunately) has a lot stronger position in this than we think.

I think the incentive for Facebook and friends is that they stand to gain a smaller piece of a much bigger pie. Don’t you agree?

Interesting set of articles. While I agree with your point of view for the most part, I am uncertain I can agree with the notion that open networks will rise to the top.

Stickiness of clientèle will be maintained by delivering the product that keeps the most customers happy. In the instance of any social network, being “happy” is finding the easiest way to maintain contact with others while projecting your own persona. If Facebook/Myspace, others can do this in their own proprietary fashion, which is entirely possible, then they will win.

Remember, people have other choices that are entirely open, (i.e. the WWW, with fully open and customizable CSS, HTML, Flash) and no limit on creativity..it’s just do they have the time/energy/desire to learn how to do it?

Matthew’s right: a blanket statement that open networks will rise to the top dismisses the importance of brand, product quality, usability, etc. (although I don’t think Kin was saying that openness equals victory). It’s a terrific point that Facebook can still be successful without providing true personal data portability, but I’ll stick to my previous comment that user demand will ultimately drive which direction Facebook goes on the scale of proprietary to fully open. Since they did join the Data Portability Workgroup, I suspect they’ll at least conform to some level of openness.