Jeff Bennett's Blog

I am a believer in the power of social networking to connect people – friends, family, long lost friends, alumni, co-workers and new acquaintenances.

Once you are networked I am even a more fervent believer in these networks powering the sharing of valuable information – where you are, what you are doing, why you bought that new camera, where to trade used books/dvds, discovering new products from cool suppliers, what restaurants are good, which plumber should you choose, and more…more…more.

In this day and the future we are much more inclined to seek or consume information from trusted sources from our networks.  We are done with the serial consumption pattern for media that is chosen, produced and served by a few sources and then served when those sources want to serve it.  Our lives are truly becoming “on demand.”  And as this occurs  we are also done with being overpowered by brands who just spend money tying up the airwaves, snail mail, spam mail, telemarketing and other annoying tactics to push their messages on us.  Technology is allowing us to block this noise.  Consumers are tuning it out.

If you have been online for a bit you could see this emerging.  Of course these social networks and media have also brought us new ways to pass time and connecting with others…like these social apps.  Some would say they are time wasters.  Maybe they are for some.  Maybe they are if it is the only way you are contributing to communicating in your online community.  But look at these social apps as another way to spend and enjoy your time and connect with old and new friends.  I am amazed at the traction of this phenomena.

The most popular application on Facebook is Farmville, which is developed by Zynga.  The game allows players to create an idyllic farm by growing fruits and vegetables, purchasing livestock and equipment, and networking with other farmers – all without ever having to pick up a hoe or muck out a pen.  Harvest times are accelerated for cyberspace: Strawberries are ready to pick in four hours, a pumpkin in eight. Forget to harvest, the crop withers and you’re out of luck. If all goes well, you can cash in your crops for FarmVille money and buy supplies and other goodies.

Farmville launched in June of this year and started out strong with 25,000 users in its first day.  The growth since has been astronomical with the site now drawing 21 million users daily and 60 million monthly worldwide.

No prediction how long it lasts or what it morphs into but it has surely become huge very quickly.  Could this be the next game show with a social twist?  When you look at the rise of social apps inside the networks it is no wonder that demand for virtual goods has emerged into a billion + industry.  Going to start to really watch this more closely and share with all of you.