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As someone who's just removed all my pages, likes, and interests from Facebook -- I just don't think they have my best interests in mind -- a network like this
by novum 16y ago
As someone who's just removed all my pages, likes, and interests from Facebook -- I just don't think they have my best interests in mind -- a network like this is, of course, a wet dream.
But there is a tradeoff between privacy and network effects. The network relies on its members connecting and conversing; that's how the network derives its value. Facebook's network is valuable because it is the de facto online identity for many millions of people. And to engender and promote network effects, Facebook must necessarily expose information about you to other users. How else would anyone connect with you?
Sure, it'd be nice for you to make yourself invisible at a moment's notice. But it's a terrible user experience for anyone trying to find or converse with you.
- nfnaaron 16y agoAs I mentioned, you wouldn't try to compete with Facebook, since they're the de facto standard. This would be for people who want something different (like Jones Soda). It would likely work best by enhancing the attraction to something existing, like Posterous or like Google's other offerings (including Android). As for discoverability vs invisibility, you're right, discoverable is more valuable to the network. I think most people would opt for more discoverability than invisibility, but invisibility is a logical setting among a level of settings. And it allows a small group of people who are only interested in staying connected with each other to do only that.