Guessing: Social Media - Next Big Idea

Platform Algorithm That's Transparent and Interactive

What'll the next Facebook, Twitter or Snapchat look like?

Here's my guess, Choosing, and how it might work:

1. In addition to accessing content, once per day, the user can 'choose' from among three Twitter-length posts provided by an algorithm (a simple character-reading test would all but eliminate non-human bots).

2. This process of choosing would provide the site with data to rank users.  And, this choosing/ranking process would propel especially worthy content towards a wider audience.

3. Ranking would not only be based on:
    * Choosing what are proven to be the most popular posts,
but also, on
    * Multiplying a user's choosing prowess by that user's own ranking as a poster.

So far, we haven't strayed all that much from the Twitter/Facebook model of 'liking' other peoples' posts.  What would make Choosing especially exciting, and addictive, is that the algorithmic process would pay the chooser at least one status point per visit/day, which could be spent, or invested in mining additional status points.

Additional awarded points, beyond one per day, would be paid at a higher rate for choosing a popular post during its initial emergence, and lower, if that post had already gained momentum.  And, prowess in choosing posts would amplify all of a user's choices within the algorithm.

Mining For Status: In addition to, once per day, selecting a choice from among three posts, a user could spend points to engage in further choosing.  Each point spent would allow a ranking of five posts, with the spent point--as well as additional points, if desired--placed on the user's #1 choice.

Spending Status: Points placed on a given choice would provide that favored post with a greater chance to succeed; that is, would instruct the algorithm to provide the post with greater exposure.  Success in choosing a popular post would mean even more points to spend--thus the mining metaphor.

A User's Status Account: Any earnings, including the one point per day, would immediately appear as status points in a user's account.  And, one's account could be accessed privately to view which posts earned the investor what amount of status, etc.

Published Status: All users could access overall rankings for:

1.  Velocity.  On average, the speed of a given user's posts (tending to go viral, or not).

2.  Judgement.  On average, a user's return on status point investment.

3.  Acclaim.  A user's Velocity times Judgement.

Topicality: Choosing would allow access by subject matter.  This would also be true for Acclaim.   So, if one were interested in Music, for example, the highest ranked posters in the musical field could be found quickly.  Likewise, mining could be focused on a given topic (or on 'underdog's, who, if successful, would pay out points at an especially high rate).  For example, a request for posts involving Music, written by low-Acclaim posters.

Most likely, topicality would be handled much the way we google.

Defining 'Posts': Posts would likely begin in a tweet-length format.  Users would then click to view somewhat longer summaries, where appropriate, and click yet again for long posts.

Choosing's structure would likely encourage:
  * a focus on current events / common culture, as opposed to more narrow specialization (because earning status points would be easier with a wider audience)
  * an attempt to earn respect, and thus avoid common irritants (for the same reason) that can plague other platforms
  * a balanced approach that included both Velocity and Judgement (one without the other would be the equivalent of multiplying a number by '1' when determining Acclaim)
While also discouraging:
  * campaigns to advance one agenda or another (spending points for a 'cause' would likely retard one's Acclaim--unless particularly apt)

Would it allow self-promotion?  Perhaps, since those who would so empty their pockets would lose Acclaim, and thus have less and less of a say within the system.  Again, unless they were successful!

Summary

Essentially we've taken a typical social media platform, and made its algorithm much more transparent and interactive.

This allows an exponential increase in the desire to participate, while at the same time dramatically increasing the likelihood that the brightest posters would be recognized for their aptitude and social skills.