As information sharing and socialization converge on the Web, it has become increasingly important that software developer's focus is on creating intuitive platforms that connect an individual's interaction needs with the world around him. By bridging the gap between social consciousness, transactions and socialization, the next-generation social media platform needs to incorporate three key components: social responsibility, eCommerce and communication.

Charities As we have seen during the Haiti Earthquake relief, social responsibility is top priorities for all brands, from celebrities to multi-national corporations. Despite the effectiveness of fundraising efforts, there has always been a distance between the message and the medium. By providing a platform where celebrities can host telethons and people can donate instantly, without changing sites, fundraising efforts stand to mobilize more donations.

By decreasing overhead of fundraising and having an integrated platform, brands stand to generate more donations.

eCommerce Have you ever purchased anything directly through a social media site? Probably not. Social media sites have created a chasm between interest and transaction that has not been crossed in one application. By reducing the distance between consumers and purchase, companies stand to generate more sales on an integrated platform. Add a layer of security and bank account information protection to it, and you have an easy-to-use transaction system that makes spending simpler, immediate and safer.

Integrating payment processing or Web "currency" into a social media platform, social media could provide a more accessible virtual retail environment.

Interaction The next-gen platform must put communication tools on the top of the feature set. Communication and interaction are still the most important part of the social media experience. Webcams, live chatting, video mail and media sharing must be simple and without the need to install endless plugins and codecs. An integrated platform where both the physical and virtual worlds intersect and interact must not sacrifice privacy either. Investing in furthering communication tools should be a top development priority.

Socialization on and off the Web must be easy and intuitive. The next-gen social media engine should ensure that the individual remains at the center, not keywords and ad revenues.