The internet, once heralded as a transformative force in human society, has seen some of its long-held “myths” crumble over time. As we reflect on the evolution of the internet over the past 30 years, it’s clear that reality has a way of defying our expectations.
**The Diminishing Network Effect**: The belief that internet companies benefit from an ever-strengthening network effect is not timeless. As we’ve seen, networks can and do weaken over time. Case in point: KuaiShou, once ahead of Douyin, was eventually overtaken, demonstrating that network effects alone do not guarantee long-term dominance.
**The Failure of Matthew Effect**: The principle that the strong get stronger and the weak get weaker does not always hold true in the internet realm. Companies like Pinduoduo and Douyin have emerged to disrupt the established order, challenging the conventional wisdom of the Matthew Effect.
**The Questionable Scale Effect**: It was once thought that internet enterprises inherently enjoy economies of scale. However, this is not always the case. Companies like JD.com initially established cost advantages not through user scale but through operational efficiency.
**The Elusive Efficiency in Management**: Internet companies were once praised for their efficient management compared to traditional businesses. Yet, as time passes, even these companies face issues of organizational bloat and diminishing efficiency, with firms like ByteDance and JD.com declaring war on “big company disease.”
**Higher Costs Online Than Offline**: E-commerce platforms, once celebrated for their low costs, have found that in some instances, the costs of procurement, sorting, and delivery may actually be higher than their offline counterparts.
**The Changing Face of Sharing Economy**: The sharing economy, once hailed as a model of openness and sharing, has lost some of its luster. Operations have become heavier, with many shared devices being centrally purchased by companies rather than coming from闲置 resources. Examples like shared bikes and power banks face high operating costs and lack a clear profit model.
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The internet was once seen as a pivotal technological revolution for human society. However, some of its “myths” have not withstood the test of time.
**The Diminishing Network Effect**: Network effects are not eternal; take the example of KuaiShou being surpassed by Douyin.
**The Failure of Matthew Effect**: Companies like Pinduoduo and Douyin have shattered the existing market patterns.
**The Questionable Scale Effect**: The cost advantages of companies like JD.com were not solely derived from scale.
**The Elusive Efficiency in Management**: Internet companies also face the challenge of declining efficiency.
**Higher Costs Online Than Offline**: E-commerce may incur higher costs in certain aspects compared to traditional retail.
**The Changing Face of Sharing Economy**: The sharing economy has become more corporate, with high costs and unclear profit models.
The real world is more complex, and navigating the relationship between theory and reality requires a cautious and nuanced approach.
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This content maintains a balance of emotional value, rigorousness, and a touch of humanity, suitable for a WordPress blog post without any titles and strictly in English.
