Something amazing happened today on Digg. After a long time ignoring the complaints of users, indeed even alienating many top contributors, the folks running Digg, in particular Kevin Rose actually listened, and responded. True, it was only after banning users and stories about the HD DVD key that the decision was made, but it’s still notable none the less. Will the Digg Revolt of 2007 result in a renaissance in listening to users? maybe, and hopefully it will at Digg, but others should also take note: corporate arrogance towards the user base shouldn’t have a place in Web 2.0, and companies that continue to act in this old fashioned way can now look at a case study of what collectively users can say and do when you won’t listen to them.
In the mean time: get across to Digg and joining in the Digging fury…I’ve never seen stories with that many votes on the front page 🙂
I joined the fury as it happened. At around midnight CST, I first found out about the HD DVD / Digg meltdown on Twitter.
I stayed up till 2 AM posting comments on the related blogs (How I got banned from Digg) by the original actors in this scene. I then revised a blog post to include what I learned and my opinions, and Twittered about my findings.
DRM is evil. RIAA is evil. MPAA is evil.
All domination systems are doomed as the rise of individual voice, via the web, usurps the dreadful reign of exploitation and deception. Universal Content Utopia has arrived.