8 Themes For The Near Future Of Tech: The Intersection of Social Platforms, Human Labor, and the Internet Economies

8 Themes For The Near Future Of Tech: The Intersection of Social Platforms, Human Labor, and the Internet Economies

In the near future, the tech industry will witness a fascinating evolution in social platforms. These next-gen platforms will combine ephemeral sharing with lasting reputation building, emphasizing default transparency and a more liberal interpretation of privacy. Additionally, they will offer fewer creative constraints, providing a space for individuals to express their creativity freely. This shift will lead to talent owning their audience, with the emergence of "channels of one" and community-as-a-service.

Contrary to popular belief, the future of social platforms will not be limited to today's dominant networks. The pursuit to "own your own audience" will become a macro trend in the coming years. As bots and algorithms take over mundane tasks in the workplace, the value of human labor will shift towards uniquely human skills and capabilities, primarily creativity. This broadening market will give rise to two types of personas: content-first creators and collaboration-first creators.

Simultaneously, the internet will witness the emergence of three distinct economies: the Knowledge Economy, the Access Economy, and the Commerce Economy. The Knowledge Economy, which has been dominant for the past 20 years, revolves around organizing and accessing information. Platforms like Google and Twitter have played a pivotal role in organizing the world's knowledge and conversations, making information accessible to anyone with an internet connection.

However, the proliferation of knowledge has created a new challenge - filtering a vast number of qualified individuals. While the Knowledge Economy allows anyone to become an expert in a field, the Access Economy aims to address this challenge by providing a framework to identify and evaluate talent. This economy matches qualified individuals with suitable opportunities, ensuring that talented creators, workers, and craftsmen have access to showcase their skills.

Finally, the Commerce Economy focuses on the seamless flow of money across borders and the elimination of intermediaries through smart contracts. While this economy holds immense potential, it is crucial to first organize the people and their talents through the Access Economy before effectively distributing resources in the Commerce Economy.

The future of tech lies in the convergence of these themes - next-gen social platforms, the shifting value of human labor, and the three internet economies. To navigate this future successfully, here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Embrace the power of creativity: As human labor becomes increasingly valued for its creativity, individuals should focus on nurturing and honing their creative skills. This will enable them to thrive in the changing landscape of work and social platforms.

2. Explore alternative social platforms: Don't limit yourself to the dominant social networks of today. Keep an eye out for emerging platforms that prioritize transparency, self-expression, and audience ownership. These platforms will offer new opportunities for content-first and collaboration-first creators.

3. Leverage the Access Economy: If you possess unique skills, talents, or knowledge, actively seek out platforms and frameworks that facilitate access to opportunities. By participating in the Access Economy, you can connect with the right people and showcase your abilities to a broader audience.

In conclusion, the future of tech holds immense potential for innovation and transformation. Social platforms will evolve, allowing individuals to own their audience and express their creativity freely. Human labor will shift towards creativity as a valuable skill, and the internet economies will play a crucial role in organizing knowledge, people, and resources. By embracing creativity, exploring alternative platforms, and leveraging the Access Economy, individuals can thrive in this exciting future.