Digg has a history of changes, some would call improvements (see Recommendation Engine, Related Submissions, Removing Hot in sub categories, etc.). Recently, there have been a lot of changes at Digg. Removing shouts, the diggbar wobble, Kevin Rose confirming a new digg iPhone app, a new structure for Digg ads, and most recently (as of somewhere around 1:20pm EST today) Digg removed user icons from submissions on the Front Page and upcoming pages, which seem contradictory to what Rose spoke about at the Future of Web Apps conference: the 10 ways to take your site from one to one million users… and what’s the #1 way was that he suggested… Exactly what Digg just removed.
“1. Ego. Ask does this feature increase the users self-worth or stroke the ego? What emotional and visible awards will a user receive for contributing to your site? Are they gaining reputation, badges, show case what they’ve done in the community?”
Here’s what the Digg FP looks like now… with no word yet from Digg as to whether or not this is a permanent change or simple a mistake. I would think its deliberate and permanent. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
