The act of sharing is closely linked to the pleasure of discovery, and the blissful marriage encourages innovation. The “gang of four” – namely Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google, understand the importance of creating meaning in their products or services by building a community first and foremost. What gets people talking, bodies moving, and hearts racing? Are there any features we can integrate to make the online experience more personal?

If you thought Social networks and blogs were merely the domain of hook-ups, photo sharing and purely personal dialogues, then think again. A multi-market report from Edelman and Strategy One has reported that more than 80% of “millennial” consumers regularly discuss brands on the web. The study surveyed people born between 1980 and 1995 – in Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Italy, the UK and US.

Social coupons have literally transformed the way people shop today. 20 percent of the U.S. population ( 45M) are eagerly checking to their e-mail everyday to discover the new deals offered by such websites as Groupon.com, LivingSocial.com and Woot.com to discover the best deals for everything from restaurants to dentists in their local area.

The Geo-Social Network jungle now has a 500 pound gorilla in its midst. The launch of “Facebook Places” may well be the death knell for Foursquare and Gowalla who have been the darlings of the space to this point. Or will it? Facebook product manager Michael Sharon describes Facebook Places as a feature that lets you tell your friends about new places and inform them where you are via your mobile – much like Foursquare.