Backtype and Social Search
January 7, 2010
A happy quack to the reader who reminded me that I have not commented about the Backtype social search system. Truth be told, the goslings and I are working on a new Web log with the code name “Social Security System” or SSN. We expect to have a sample of this new blog / information service available in a couple of weeks. Backtype is one of the companies that “fits” into the SSN space. I want to make a distinction between search and content processing and the burgeoning field of social content. Like the Social Security number, social content is becoming sufficiently large to warrant more focused coverage.
Backtype is a search system that shows comments from blogs and other social or grassroots information sources about a topic. Here is a query I ran a few minutes ago about Google Press. The results make clear that few people know about Google and its push into book publishing with O’Reilly. That is fine with me because Backtype provides a verification for me that most folks are yapping about the Android phone, not the real game changing in which Googzilla is engaged.
Backtype is one of those lean, mean start up machines that Y Combinator loves. The company has caught the eye of other VCs, and it is chugging along.
One of the most interesting features of Backtype is its API. You can get a good sense of what can be done with scraped and spidered content from various grassroots sources by reading the company’s two blog posts about its APIs. You can find the first blog post here and the second one here.
There has been some controversy about the firm’s approach to content. Plagiarism Today took umbrage at the company’s approach to indexing. “BackType: Republishing Comments” hoses the start up with this point of view:
But while the service itself has a great deal of potential for usefulness, it also republishes the full comments on their results pages. Furthermore, those results pages are indexable by other search engines, including Google, and that opens the door for duplicate content issues. Worse still, there is currently no way for a commenter to opt out of the system. At this time, the only way you could get your comments removed from the system is to file a DMCA notice with their host. At this time, however, I do not recommend such a solution.
Try the service and make up your own mind. I find it quite useful. Kosmix, for example, uses the system, and I know Kosmix and Google share some vibes. Maybe some of the BackType approach will add spice to Google’s alleged social search system.
Stephen E. Arnold, January 7, 2010
A freebie. I know a bit about the Y Combinator short leash approach to funding. I suppose I could try to hit up Backtype for cash, but I would probably have to loan the fellows the money to pay me. I will report this pitiable situation to the USPTO.
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