Apparently, getting ad placement on Bebo wasn't enough for Yahoo, as now, they are testing the waters on their own social networking site. Apparently, getting thrashed once with Yahoo 360 wasn't enough. This time, they're playing the "me too" game, imitating Facebook. Given that Google and Microsoft already have the two big Social network players tied up for advertising dollars, it's basically all Yahoo can do to get in on the game. I'm not sure it will work though. Critical mass has already been reached on the popular network sites, meaning its intrinsic value to new members is positive and climbing as more people join the site. New networks have negative investment value to the initial joiners, and given the work needed to involve enough people to extract value from the venture, most shy away from it. What Yahoo needs to do with Mash is ensure that there are enough innovative features that will attract early adopters, and hope that enough people see promise to adopt it, such that future consumers have positive benefits. The problem is, Yahoo went tried and true with most of it, copying Facebook.
One new interesting feature though, is the fact that Yahoo's Mash will also implement a wikipedia-style entry. Which should prove interesting from a social aspect, as cyber-bullying already appears regularly on IM and chat rooms. Imagine the ability to change a person's profile entries in the anonymous realm of cyberspace. It's frightening in a way. I can imagine what some of my Exes might say about me, for example. The ability to have complete freedom in cyberspace is something that's usually strived for by companies as an appealing point of their service. Here though, I'm not sure if it's something people will exactly go after, given the negative possibilities.
But again, what choice does Yahoo have but to try?
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