Elgg: a "CMS" for the MySpace generation.

Yesterday I mentioned Elgg as a component of OpenAcademic. It's currently by far the least popular, but it could grow to be the most interesting.

Elgg is a CMS without the "C" -- the content. Instead, the administrator focuses on providing an environment for exchanging ideas and building relationships.

Remind you of anything? Perhaps the screenshot will. Here's Elgg.net, a site that runs Elgg and is aimed at Elgg users (or other e-learning enthusiasts):


And here's the Number 6 most visited site on the web today:

OK so MySpace has a lot more going on, but you can see the similarities... user provided content all over the place, and a prominent sign up box are what social sites are all about.

MySpace promises to be "a space for friends". Elgg.net more wordily says something similar: "Passionate about education? Join others who are as well". You're not joining for content, you're joining for people and passion.

Keep your eye on Elgg. It could be the first (C)MS that really lets you build true Web 2.0 sites. The first SNMS, if you like.

Elgg.net
MySpace.com