Open Social Objects?
OpenSocial is a set of three common APIs, defined by Google with input from partners, that allow developers to access core functions and information at social networks:
- Profile Information (user data)
- Friends Information (social graph)
- Activities (things that happen, News Feed type stuff)
The details aren’t yet out so it’s possible that the Activities API allows for discussion around social objects but there’s also a chance that the common mistake of designing only for links between people and people has been built in to the framework.