If you're only interested in having users who are attracted to the gardening metaphor, it seems like a neat concept, I guess.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I think that's not a big group of people and it will be hard to build the network effects a social media site requires. The graphic design, aesthetic, and interaction metaphor are too opinionated to attract the general public. Personally, I find the cute look and feel of the site off-putting and I can't imagine most of my friends using it. And even if some were, I don't think it would be enough to get me to want to spend time there.
I recognize that my reaction is completely subjective but that's the point. People react subjectively to design. I'm just not interested in tending a garden, in real life or virtually, neither are my wife and most of my friends. (My sister would probably be right in there though. Not sure who she would talk to.)
A long term plan I do have is to have users be able to customise their 'gardens' to whatever their own community's vibe is. Perhaps a 'moonscape', a 'wasteland', etc. They could possibly even design their own primitives to match, moving away from flowers to something else.
I appreciate you taking the time to leave me your thoughts, jp57!
Maybe I'm wrong, but I think that's not a big group of people and it will be hard to build the network effects a social media site requires. The graphic design, aesthetic, and interaction metaphor are too opinionated to attract the general public. Personally, I find the cute look and feel of the site off-putting and I can't imagine most of my friends using it. And even if some were, I don't think it would be enough to get me to want to spend time there.
I recognize that my reaction is completely subjective but that's the point. People react subjectively to design. I'm just not interested in tending a garden, in real life or virtually, neither are my wife and most of my friends. (My sister would probably be right in there though. Not sure who she would talk to.)