Why Germany Lags in Web Innovation

Blogger, social media guru and Spiegel columnist Sascha Lobo has a good explanation for why Internet start-ups in Germany are for the most part pathetic knock-offs that rely primarily on patent infringement litigation in a (largely unsuccessful) effort to stay afloat:

Das ist die deutsche Netzkrankheit: digital nur zu tun, was vermeintlich sicher funktioniert und so das wichtigste Erfolgsrezept des Internets zu missachten, also die ständige Neu- und Weiterentwicklung, die kleinteilige, experimentelle Überprüfung, Mut zum Dauerversuch und Dauerirrtum. Die Ironie quillt sackweise hervor, denn das heißt letztlich, dass die deutsche Überangst vor dem Scheitern im Digitalen zum Scheitern führt.

(That is the German Internet malaise: to do in the digital realm only that which is supposedly safe and functions, thereby disregarding the most important aspect of success in the Internet - the constant further development, the small-scale, experimental revisions, the courage to constantly experiment and constantly fail.  The irony here speaks volumes: the German fear of failure leads to failure in the digital sphere.) 

Most Internet entreprenuers in Silicon valley (and their venture capital partners) experience failure before they have success, and, even then, success may be fleeting.  But, far from being stigmatized by failure, it is considered a badge of honor. 

And the Internet giants - Twitter, Google, Facebook - operate in permanent beta mode:

Der Begriff "Perpetual Beta" bezeichnet die ständige, kleinteilige Weiterentwicklung von Software und Netzplattformen, das digitale Produkt ist nie fertig, sondern wird als ständiges Experiment begriffen, dessen Fehler die Verbesserung ermöglichen. ... das Facebook von 2009 im Jahr 2013 so viele Leute interessieren würde wie StudiVZ.

(The concept of "perpetual beta" describes the constant, incremental further development of software and Internet platforms, the digital product is never complete, but is rather seen as a permanent experiment, where mistakes make improvements possible.... the Facebook of 2009 would be just as interesting in 2013 as StudiVZ.) 

Comments

[Steve]

Most of the internet is redundant rubbish beyond the essential minimum (ie text and information) anyway.