Digg has decided to move in a slightly different direction, finally opening up channels of communication for their users. This is grossly good news for anyone who has ever wondered why an application that purported itself to be a social news site had little to no truly “social” features. Here are a few additions that are coming down the pipeline.

The Features

Open Discussion. Digg is changing itself to allow users to form groups around interests. They are also taking a more “Pownce-centric” approach, giving the users the ability to send links to each other instead of pushing it to the larger community for review.

Stronger Profile. Profile pages will now feature stories that users have commented on as well as a much larger amount of biographical data.

Privacy. In general, they are trying to make the service more private and allow users to be able to discuss articles in more tightly knit groups.

Web 2.0 Roundup

Sounds like a good plan, the only question is whether this will negatively affect the “Digg effect” that drives at least some of Digg’s appeal. If marketers can’t blitz the site for eyeballs, it is possible that submissions might flag. We will be a few months still before we know for sure. The first set of new features are coming out in October.

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