Nope, I don't use that either.

No time

There seems to be this belief by some that those on the web, ought to be on every new technology, and that we must be  “innovators” (earlier than early-adopters). Personally, I like to keep up-to-date with recent developments in web design and web analytics, but that’s as far as I’ll really go. Sure, I’ll keep my ears open for new social networks, I’ll even create accounts to “check them out”. But if a new application doesn’t hook me in the first hour or so, I’ll ditch it – unless of course it gains wider appeal like Twitter did (hello Oprah!). In that case, I wouldn’t want to miss out on the party.

Of course, Social Media Experts (can the real Social Media Experts please stand up?) ought to be more up to date with all this, since this is their job – but it surely isn’t mine. For mere mortals like me, time is at a premium. With full-time work, part-time studies, and family obligations, it’s a wonder I even have time to blog anymore. Throw on top of that that I have to keep up to date with the fields I work in - and that’s plenty.

Motivation and Commitment

As with any new technology, features and promises of greatness do not guarantee widespread adoption. Most users tend not to want to learn how to use a new applications if:

• it is hard to use or takes a long time to figure out, or
• it doesn’t help them accomplish their goals better than an application they’re already using
• or they aren’t very motivated to accomplishing the goals the application helps accomplish.

Take FriendFeed for instance. Yes, it can take the sharing of media and opinions to unheard-of levels, but here’s why I don’t use it:

• I find the interface unappealing and clunky,
• I currently use Twitter, and its just fine, and
• I simply don’t care to share/engage the community at the level that FriendFeed allows.

So does the fact that I don’t actively use FriendFeed make me a bad person? Of course not. FriendFeed simply doesn’t help me accomplish any of the goals that I am motivated or committed to reach, such as, optimizing website performance. Of course if Oprah were to start using FriendFeed, I would have to make an exception. As I said, wouldn’t want to miss out on the party.

What is your take on new social networks and technologies? Are you an innovator? What do you think of later-adopters?