Reed’s Law and How Multiple Identities Make the Long Tail Just That Little Bit Longer

Abstract

Reed’s Law or “Group Forming Network Theory” (as Dr. David P Reed originally and modestly called it) is the mathematical explanation for the power of the network. As with many great ideas, it is quite simple, easy to understand and enlightening. This paper sets out to explain what Reed’s Law describes and includes more recent understandings of the collaborative power of networks which should help to make sense of and gives context to the exponential. It also suggests that the multiple complex identities we are adopting in multiple communities are not necessarily a “bad thing”. The contention of this paper is that the different modes of thought these actively encourage are to be welcomed when viewed in the context of unleashing the power of self-forming collaborative communities of interest and purpose.