Sadly , this is a theme with tech, it progresses in cycles. FB replaces forums which replace yahoo which replace newsgroups. In terms of ideas, there is very few that wasn't there in the 90s, (infinite scrolling maybe; afforded by increased RAM - i can't think of others). Since CPU performance has stangated, the last few cycles of generic computing have focused on design. That's the main selling point now, and you see that in the proliferation of UX jobs and attempts to squeeze the last drops of user engagement with things such as 'onboarding' etc. Design has become inane, of course, it completely ignores human capacities such as contour-perception, response time, consistency, but it doesn't matter, because the game has changed: it's now about how you capture the user faster and then lock her in. Wasting their time trying to figure out the app is now a positive sign: "the user is engaged".