Some time ago, I ran into this really cool app called Path. It was supposed to be something like Facebook, but with a limit of 50 friends, then expanded to 150 friends, because that’s what Robin Dunbar said.
In reality, Path is not like Facebook. I’m not sure if Path should be sorry about that, or Facebook should be glad that it isn’t.
Path is a journal for your life, which you can share with your closest friends, securely and privately. Sounds great, right ? And it is. Kinda.
The Gravy
Let’s start with the good stuff. Path is probably one of the most beautiful social apps I’ve seen on the iPhone. It lets you share status updates, locations, who you’re with, pictures, videos etc. very easily. And did I mention – it looks beautiful ? I’m diggin’ the focused approach and the usability. Something other apps should study and learn from. It wreaks quality.
And that’s it.
There are limits. Everywhere.
The problem with Path though, is not that it’s focused in its approach, but that it’s limited. Oh, so very limited.
First of all, for a social network which aims at letting me maintain a journal, it aims to create a need I don’t really have. And when I do have it, I maintain that need in a place where I can share it – and where my friends actually are. One could argue this is just a matter of time, and with time comes user adoption.
But Path is also only available via iPhone and Android. Only ? That should cover a large portion of your world, shouldn’t it ? But no. I know LOTS of people who doesn’t do this kind of stuff via their phone. They do it at their browsers, in the evening, because that’s what Facebook taught them.
I know. “If it ain’t mobile, fix it” and all that. But you know, I think most journalling people I know are relatively analogue. The ones who do go digital, usually aim for more than just journalling (assumption). They aim for social interaction. Something which they get from Facebook. Or Twitter. Or Google+.
Which leads me to the next issue I have with Path.
There’s just one path available to you.
I don’t know about you, but when I started using Path, the only other types I knew to be using it, was those other social media savvy types with iPhones – primarily in my Twitter network. So, if Path was to have any value at all to me – those were the people I added. Don’t get me wrong, they’re lovely people, and I’m readily sharing with them. It’s just not what Path was aimed at.
And so now I’m in the position where the only ones I use Path with, are those guys. Not my family. Or my close friends. Because they’re not there. Some have an iPhone, some have an Android, and they all have Facebook. None of them use Path.
Know what’d be great ? If I could have several paths. Paths to which I could add people, and they could see THAT path only. That way I could actually use Path the way Path intended to, and slowly build a work path, a friends path, a Twitter path etc. And only publish what I wanted, to the respective paths. Not like now, where no matter what, I’ll end up mixing everyone together in one path.
That, I would love.
Path also just added photo filters, much like Instagram. Great stuff, they look good too. But Path is not Instagram. On Instagram I follow, and get followed, by lots of people. On Path ? 8-10 people. Guess where I share my fancy little photos (I know the difference is Path is aimed at your closest, where Instagram is aimed broadly at photosharing, but this is actually to Paths disadvantage).
My problem with Path is basically, that for what it says it aims at, it’s really bad at letting me reach the goal. The focus they want me to gain, is also imposing limits that keeps me from using it. Because, there’s not that much going on, I can just share. And others can choose to visit my path. We can interact, but on a very basic level.
So I feel I’m putting content into a solution which gets me nowhere, fast. And it really stinks to sit there with something that stinks of potential. I mean, the multiple path issue alone, would let Path act as a potential competitor to most other social network. Give me those, and a specific “Link” type item to share, and hell – Path could even act as a beautiful competitor to Twitter.
I’ll even go so far, as to say: It could become the social network which consumerized Twitter style messages, competed with Facebook and Google+ as a social network, and looked better than any of them while doing it.
It feels like wasted potential in a beautiful shell. The problem with Path is, that it’s not a road. Or even a network of roads.
Should you give Path a go ?
If you actually know people you want to share the type of information Path wants you to share, sure. You should even have a look at Path, just to see how great a social app can be designed.
But if you expect to gain much value from it, in its current form, I’d probably not bother.
