TechCrunch reports that social bookmarking site StumbleUpon is getting acquired by eBay, probably for $40 million. What is eBay going to do with it, it’s hard to say; it’s not exactly the most logical acquisition ever, but when a site has over 2 million registered users, you can surely use it for something.
Interestingly enough, on the same day Google updated its toolbar to include a new button (with an image of two dice), which does basically the same thing as StumbleUpon: sends you to a random site based on your previous browsing preferences and search queries.
Does this mean that Google replaced the entire StumbleUpon functionality with one button? Not really. Social media and social bookmarking sites are popular because they’re social; because they have a community. It’s true that StumbleUpon didn’t always have a clear-cut way for its community to interact, although it was possible, but with the recent redesign of their site the community-related features are much better.
Google’s dice button might be fun enough, but I doubt an algorithm can ever replace a living, breathing community.
Stan…Gooogle’s response to the StumbleUpon win by eBay is off the mark, actually dumb. The charm and brilliance of SU is the group and community interaction. Google’s addition to their toolbar will only drive new members to StumbleUpon by it’s empty contrast. Best, Casey Kazan, editor, dailygalaxy.com
@Casey: I wouldn’t call their response dumb; I’d call it a ‘let’s take what we can’ type of approach. As I’ve said, you can’t replace a community with an algorithm.
Surely just algorithm will not replace a community.
But I think the new button on the google bar is just the first step for Google.
When it come to community, and don’t forget the horrible amount of Goolge users.
Great information! Thanks for writing this. It is an honor to participate in the discussion.