FriendFeed Aggregates Social Network Activity

In Facebook, all of the action happens in the feed and mini feed.  The mini feed shows a user their activity, while the feed provides a view of the activity of their friends.  However, not all online activity occurs within Facebook, so this view is, by definition, limiting.

A new entrant, FriendFeed, is making an effort to address this by delivering a comprehensive feed that encompasses multiple platforms.  With FriendFeed, your feed includes your Twitters, music you’ve  listened to on Last.fm, pictures you’ve posted to flickr, changes to your LinkedIn profile, videos  favorited on YouTube, updates to various Facebook apps and many more (23 services in all).

FriendFeed raises the question of whether there is a need for platforms like Facebook, or whether the  Internet itself is the platform.  In essence, it’s another part of the same argument in support of an open social graph and not for walled gardens.

FriendFeed, which is in early beta (by invitation only), is a startup from four Google alum, including Bret Taylor and Jim Norris, who built Google Maps.  This feed mashup is very compelling.  Of course, it’s only as useful as your network, so my friend feed is at http://friendfeed.com/graubart.  Feel free to friend me there or subscribe to my feed.