In ten years, having digitally reviewed 10,000 places will be far more valuable on a social level than having 10,000 followers. Reviews are the building blocks of trust on the Internet. And they’ve yet to be realized to their full potential in terms of social utility.

Imagine for a moment that you’re out to eat with a handful of friends when someone brings up the new restaurant that just opened. You haven’t been yet, so you want to determine whether or not it’s worth going. Do you ask everyone to give it 1 to 5 stars and take the average? Or do you listen to everyone’s opinion and take the word of the person you trust the most?