Flickr Hits a Milestone, Predicts the Future

After 4 years and 9 months, Flickr has finally reached the 3 billionth photo mark, which as McDonald's has demonstrated with signs the world over, is apparently noteworthy. Though celebrations could (and should) occur at every decimal ascension, the photo that marks this illustrious triumph seems to fall on the, well, foreboding, perhaps prophetic side of things.



The door is closed, and not just closed, but secured with a wrought-iron gate. A soiled newspaper hangs limply atop the newspaper rack attached the wall-mounted mailbox. An electrical cord lies in a noose-like knot at the bottom of the door. Cracked paint curls conspicuously at the side of the door.

While Flickr will have little problem uploading and hosting another billion or so photos, the closed, secured door and conspicuous placement of the newspaper seems to be a portent of the future that printed media faces. Both newspapers and magazines are beginning to fail en masse with advertisers pulling the plug on funding. Though internet news sites and sources aren't immune from the throes of the economic recession, it seems that the way we get our information will continue to tread further into electronic media.

But, as with anything, only time and a worn-out door will tell.

You can see reviews of Flickr and other photo sharing sites here at TopTenREVIEWS. And don't forget our other blog posts:

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