The last century

The last century was about taking drudgery and automating it. People often say one of the greatest inventions was the washer and dryer. It eliminated one of the worst tasks for homemakers. The first iteration of the internet was big hardware and software. Things like Quicken were simply online checkbooks that helped automate the arduous task of keeping track of expenses. Realtor.com just took the MLS and put it online so you could view it without going to an office.

The then iteration is going to make employees more productive than ever previously. Social networks allow for easy collaboration. Cloud computing makes employees mobile with files accessible from anywhere on the planet. Links, news, and communication is simple and moves at the speed of light around the world. But, there is only so much value in a social network. Facebook's purchase of Instagram couldn't have been about the value. Instead, it was a defensive play to combat Pinterest. Few of these social networks make money either. The market seems frothy with regard to social networks that exist purely to be social networks.