"Reaction [beta]"
"Remove the web developer and the web gets developed" 20 Apr 2007
O'Reilly Radar picks up on an interesting conversation about MySpace and how it has made it easier for the man on the street to create his own web presence. The post quotes Phil Torrone who says:
"I've always said that setting up a web site for most folks is scary and intimidating - but myspace, with all your friends there, lends itself to a helping culture. everyone shares how to do whatever with their circles of friends...they get by with a little help from their friends."
Tim O'Reilly echoes this thought, adding:
"Myspace is actually not as good as any of the standalone apps -- blogging, photo sharing, IM, or email -- but it puts them all together into an easy to use package that is not only more comprehensive but also easier to get started with."
Seems that MySpace has suceeded by lowering the bar for web development even further. Now that anyone can create an online presence, should web developers be worried?
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3 comments so far
tom 20 Apr 2007 10:53 AM
"Now that anyone can create an online presence, should web developers be worried?"
No, I don't think so. Anyone can go to B&Q to buy a new tap and fix it - but there's still a market for plumbers.
There'll always be a place for experts in web development, won't there?
felix 20 Apr 2007 05:07 PM
I don't think that myspace users are the ones that would be employing the bulk of web developers, any more than blogspot or netvibes. These sites are the ones employing web developers, O'Reilly seems to have mistaken designers or web producers for developers...
I blogged/ranted a little about it on my blog, too.
Kenneth Sundqvist 21 Apr 2007 01:43 AM
Considering the quality of almost all MySpace pages my biggest worry is to actually have to visit them.
And how many of our clients are individuals, and those professional companies/groups that make use of MySpace, how many of them did not make use of web developers/designers?
With MySpace the web does get content (its users hardly develops the web) without developers, designer and content providers, but it's like smearing poo on the walls and say that they get painted without painters.