SNAP: The Next Generation of User Generated Content?

The article introduces the term "SNAP" (Social Network Application) coined by Chris Smoak as a more accurate and descriptive term than "widgets". The author argues that "widgets" underplay the sophistication and potential of what developers can create, emphasizing that they are in fact full-blown applications capable of enabling new levels of user interaction.

SNAPs represent the evolution of user-generated content (UGC) beyond simple text and graphics. Early UGC revolved around sharing text, images, and basic content, but SNAPs bring interactive functionality, bridging the gap between content and application logic.

Facebook: A Platform for Functional SNAPs

The author highlights a significant distinction between Facebook and MySpace in the realm of SNAPs. While MySpace widgets focused primarily on decorating profiles with aesthetic enhancements, Facebook widgets prioritize functionality and integration.

Facebook's open API allows developers to create applications that are deeply integrated into the platform, offering users a richer and more interactive experience. The article lists examples of functional SNAPs on Facebook, such as Graffiti, X Me, Superpoke, and Free Gifts, which demonstrate the platform's potential for user-generated interaction.

Facebook's API: Enabling a New Era of Development

The author acknowledges that some of the functionality provided by Facebook's SNAPs could have existed on MySpace, but argues that MySpace's lack of a robust API hindered the development of truly innovative applications. The author emphasizes the importance of a powerful API for developers to build applications that go beyond simply providing content.

Facebook's open API enables developers to integrate their applications seamlessly into the platform, allowing for a more immersive and engaging user experience. This encourages developers to create applications that are not merely decorative but functional and interactive.

The Future of SNAPs: A World of User-Generated Interaction

The article explores potential future scenarios for SNAPs, predicting a shift in control towards users and a more distributed nature of social networks. The author outlines a possible evolution of SNAPs, starting from basic templates for UGC data, progressing towards user-generated pages, and ultimately leading to the creation of entire sub-websites that function as applications.

• Allow people to put UGC data into templates (think eBay)
• Allow people to put UGC data onto their own pages
• Give people some small real estate to display applications (widgets)
• Give people entire pages and controls to display applications
• Let developers author entire sub-websites that run as apps?

The article speculates on the possibility of social networks becoming more decentralized, providing an underlying platform for user data, infrastructure, and monetization, while allowing developers to create self-contained applications that integrate seamlessly with the broader social network.

SNAPs on Facebook: A New Paradigm for User Interaction

The article concludes by emphasizing the transformative potential of SNAPs on Facebook. By empowering users to create interactive applications, Facebook is ushering in a new era of user-generated interaction, moving beyond the limitations of traditional content sharing.

The article argues that SNAPs have the potential to revolutionize how people interact with social networks, enabling the creation of a wide range of innovative and engaging applications that enrich the user experience.

Facebook's Vision for the Future of User Interaction

The article suggests that Facebook's vision for the future of user interaction goes beyond simply providing a platform for sharing content. By embracing SNAPs, Facebook is empowering users to create their own applications, transforming the platform into a hub for user-generated interaction.

This shift towards a more interactive and developer-centric platform could have a significant impact on the future of social networks, leading to a more dynamic and engaging online experience for users.