An interesting article from the August 2010 issue of Wired, arguing that while internet usage continues to grow, a diminishing portion of that is actually web traffic, having been usurped by apps like Twitter, Spotify/Pandora, chat, IM and streaming video. (I’d contest the inclusion of Facebook in their list, since I’m sure a majority of people are still accessing it primarily via the web.)
The point of the article is that these new apps are closed or partially closed, as opposed to the open nature of the web. It also means that an increasing percentage of online information falls outside of the reach of webcrawlers like Google (a fact which I’m sure they’re more than aware of).
How about you? Are you reading this directly on the web, or through an RSS feed? Is the web destined to fade away, taking Geocities and the Hampster Dance with it?