What you already see is people using social networks to post blogs instead of using blogs. If most of these networks will be open (eventually) you can export and import your content. You’re the creator and the owner, intellectually. You don’t own the bits and bytes.

You only own your content when you have full continuos access. Right now my hosting provider owns my content. If he decides to empty a database, all of this text is lost. I have rights, but I don’t have full access to my content when he deletes something.

I love how you can export LinkedIn contacts into your address book, I don’t have to ask you, we just have to connect. I can import it somewhere else. I don’t have to own my content (bits and bytes) as long it is free to take whenever I want. (for example Google Docs)

This model can only work if my provider doesn’t decide to remove me from the database or LinkedIn stops allowing you to export your addresses.

There needs to be an incentive for service providers that will keep systems open (and give users access to content). I think users are such an incentive for anyone who provides a service.

I rather keep my stuff on my own domain and spread is across social networks trough open standards. They networks might change, but my content is safe…

So I do not agree with you n this one Wilbert ;)

Good content or interesting people give value to a network. Like newspapers pay people to write interesting articles.

It is already happening in the online video market. Where do you share your video? Brightcove? YouTube? Vimeo?

As an amateur you look for the best environment. Where are the people with similar interests, what service is ‘cool’. As a successful professional you might look at other options like, where do I get maximum revenue.

…and part of that is the appearance, authenticity and identity of your own spot on the net. Your own domain (not some x.y.z/123), your own lay-out (assuming that you have the knowledge to make a good information structure and visual design) and complete technical power (standing out via seo, link building) can attribute greatly to these purposes.

But these borders are getting vague indeed. Very popular sites just sit on a x.blogspot.com domain, having a standard lay-out, and do nothing special *except* delivering the (content) goods that people are waiting for and happy with.

What about the cheques coming in from cj, google, etc.
People do make a living out of their presence on the net, don’t they?