UPDATE: Web 2.0: Do users matter?
Kevin Rose’s “a couple updates” at the Digg blog restates the Digg position that “attempts to game Digg are ineffective”
"Stories reach the home page only when enough legitimate users have put them there. Even if someone were paid to submit or digg a story that reached the home page, what many don’t realize is the combination of factors that ultimately led to that story getting there. The factors and the algorithm are constantly being tweaked to reflect the diversity of the Digg audience as well as to guard against manipulative behavior. At the end of the day, we work constantly to ensure that the broader Digg community gets to decide what makes it to the home page."
Rose notes that the idea of Digg gaming “will always make for controversial press/blog posts.” What he is particularly concerned about, however, is that “Top Diggers” are “being blamed by some outlets as leading efforts to manipulate Digg.”
Going forward, there will no longer be a “Top Digger” list. According to Rose, the list originally served “a great purpose of recognizing those who were working hard to make Digg a great site, as well as a way for new users to discover new content.” Given Digg’s current scale Rose now seeks to widen opportunities for interaction among Diggers.
Given Rose’s extensive discussion of the frequent assertions of Digg gaming, some may view the “Top Digger” list retirement as an attempt to diffuse temptation and portray it as snubbing those that helped build the site.
Rose’s explanation, however, and his suggestion of what is to “replace” the list, jibes with the Digg future he discussed with me last September (see “Digg: Kevin Rose talks ‘The Real Deal’ in exclusive interview”):
Rose now on the future of Digg:We will look completely different a year from now. We are creating an exciting system for users to discover and share news. We are learning about users and behaviors, we will make actual true connections between users, making new friends, recommending stories…
Now, as the site has matured and we regularly get 5,000+ content submissions per day, we believe there are better ways to discover new friends based on your interests and what you’re digging. So if you have been digging stories about digital cameras and Oolong tea, you will be introduced to other top users with those interests.We’re currently working on designing and refining the technologies required that will help enable our nearly 900,000 registered users to make real connections that we believe will greatly enhance the Digg experience – whether you’re brand new to the site or have been on Digg since the beginning. We plan on rolling this out in the coming months along with features and programs that do a better job of rewarding positive contributions to the Digg community.
Diggers will soon be digging social networking at Digg.
UPDATE: Web 2.0: Do users matter?