You Can Own a Genuine Piece of Web 1.0 History

If you're in Chicago next week, you're well-positioned to own a genuine piece of Web 1.0 history, because the assets of Bolt.com, a Web 1.0-based, teen-oriented social networking site will be sold at auction.

Like latter-day social networks such as Facebook.com and Myspace.com, Bolt moved quickly from its user-generated grass roots to a commercial site with major brand sponsors eager to relentlessly target Bolt's young, male audience. Because a sizeable percentage of this demographic think nothing of stealing copyrighted material, in 2006 the site was targeted for massive copyright violations by Universal Music and folded in August of 2007.

The lesson from Bolt's demise is clear: those who live by the teen may well die by the teen. In fact, I'd say that there's at least a 50-50 chance that we'll be poring over the Facebook.com auction by 2011 (after all, about half of the images on Facebook.com are stolen; all that's needed is a few strategic lawsuits). In the meantime, enjoy the pickings at the Bolt.com auction.