Social media is evolving very fast. I am not sure if you were following a new site called "pinterest". It was very popular for a while, it may still be, but it is fading. Still popular with certain demographics, mostly females.

Now we have this "Branch". Just like Google+, yes I am a big fan of Google+ the Branch let's you focus. Right now there is only you and I on this conversation, but as we grow, and we establish a following, we can invite other people into our conversation.
There is also Sulia. Check it out! Sulia is also a more focused conversation, but not by individuals, but by topic. Personal Finance is one topic. We need to write credit repair stuff under that topic.

Sulia is really good, also like Prismatic. Lots of tools like that now. Not sure how Branch is much different from forums or how it can best be used or even if it is a platform in search of a problem, but something draws me to it.

Karl, you make a good point about Branch. I am not sure what to do with it either, but it looks interesting. Personally I don't like to broadcast because not everybody is interested in the topics I am interested in. Sharing ideas on specific topics, having a civil conversation, even if we don't agree is what I like. Is Branch the solution? Is Sulia better? I don't know, but it's worth exploring.