Lemming 2.0

Jane Copland from SEOmoz has a nice post/rant on the massive Lemming 2.0 effect that occurs when new innovative and valuable services emerge. Photo sharing, social networks and social news sites all have market leaders surrounded by a host of more or less blatant copies of the first service. It’s Clondyke for dollar wanting lemmings.
Jane puts this in words quite eloquently:

The only conclusion I can draw is that these companies can’t create anything worthwhile, but know enough web development (but only just) to create a platform so that other people can create content for them. While all sites that include user participation stand to profit off the contribution of others, I’ve been simply astounded at how many of these sites provide virtually nothing other than a way for the public to build up the companies’ link profiles and PageRanks.

…and now, after my blood pressure settles down again I have a confession:

I am a Lemming.