- Started
- Last post
- 30 Responses
- lukus_W0
People who have access to what you think about, what you care about and what you do on-line, hold a great deal of power over you.
I don't think that there are dark forces at work, plotting against users. I do think that these companies care more about profit and couldn't really give a fuck about what's beneficial to an individual user. When you're dealing with millions of users, it's natural to view a user as a commodity. If you view your users as a commodity - you work according to incentives and tend to disregard anything that isn't conducive to success.
I think the fact these sites are free is a major challenge - because it removes a basic principle that traditionally works for the benefit of the consumer .. we can no longer vote with our cash - and we can't easily challenge decisions that we're unhappy with because we haven't actually paid for anything. That's not to say we don't pay - our attention makes these companies rich. To think they make money from advertising is far too simplistic. Facebook's value is in its database.
It is a big deal - I reckon anyone who disagrees is naive.
- mg330
- 10g00
I need more design cohorts
- ukit0
It is a big deal but not a black and white one. What you say about the customer having less leverage because the product is free is an interesting point. On the other hand, it's also far easier for the customer to leave if they're unhappy. Much easier than buying a new car or switching cable providers, say. Remember MySpace? Me neither.
- You can't really leave though - because you invest so much in the network.lukus_W
- It's like saying that an iPhone owner can switch to android (and therefore have free-market led choice)lukus_W
- ... while it's possible - in reality it would never happen due to the 24 month contract and initial financial investment.lukus_W
- lukus_W0
Will be interesting to see if Facebook eventually dies like MySpace .. but I guess once a company has the backing of an entire suite of industries - it's not necessarily going to have to ever die?
- mg330
lukas_W,
I wonder about that often - if Facebook will eventually die like Myspace. One of the powerful things about Facebook, to me, is it's maturity over MySpace. I'm on Facebook with a pretty decent number of people in my age range - late 20s, early 30s, "adults" if you will. There's something about the basic layout that doesn't scream "teendom" like MySpace did/does, even if you don't mess with your background or use themes.
Facebook definitely introduced far more into that type of social networking environment than MySpace ever has, and I prefer the Facebook functionality far more than MySpace. I like that Facebook is built around the ability to see what my friends are doing quickly and easily; that wasn't so easy on MySpace.
- I read that FaceBook are introducing a micro-payments system soon - which could really change the face of the web.lukus_W
- lukus_W0
Yeah, FB is compatible (functionally / aesthetically) with business .. which gives it a lot more longevity - also it's created an ecosystem of products which depend on it (via the API) which further extends the likelihood that it'll stick around.
- dasmeteor0
What is this ?
http://www.facebook.com/product_…