Anti-Network Effects
First, I start with the principal dilemma, which I call “Anti-Network Effects.” It’s a myth that network effects are all powerful and positive forces—quite the opposite. Small, sub-scale networks naturally want to self-destruct, because when people show up to a product and none of their friends or coworkers are using it, they will naturally leave.
Andrew Chen • The Cold Start Problem: How to Start and Scale Network Effects
First, I start with the principal dilemma, which I call “Anti-Network Effects.” It’s a myth that network effects are all powerful and positive forces—quite the opposite. Small, sub-scale networks naturally want to self-destruct, because when people show up to a product and none of their friends or coworkers are using it, they will naturally leave.
... See moreAndrew Chen • The Cold Start Problem: How to Start and Scale Network Effects
The Future of Virality and Network Effects With viral effects there are seasons to it, depending on the channels and technologies you have available. Going viral today is more difficult than it was during the 2000-2012 Golden Age because most platforms have become saturated with the same viral strategies that worked early on...Virality has therefor... See more
James Currier • Viral Effects Are Not Network Effects

However, it’s also true that a lot of network-based utility only is realized at some level of scale. (As per NFX: “The simplified definition of network effects is that they occur when a company’s product or service becomes more valuable as usage increases.)
Eugene Wei • Status Games: Engineering Scarcity in a World of Abundance
“Network effects” is an overused concept. The basic concept is that network effects occur when an experience gets better with each person who joins.