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I'm generally libertarian leaning and expected to completely disagree with this. But he's got a point. Does anyone here really believe Facebook deserves to be a

I'm generally libertarian leaning and expected to completely disagree with this. But he's got a point. Does anyone here really believe Facebook deserves to be a multi-billion dollar company? All of their success comes from the luck of being first (ish) and establishing a monopoly because of network effects. Someone might make a vastly better social network. But are you going to use that, or the one your friends and family use?

lazyjones 10y ago
> Does anyone here really believe Facebook deserves to be a multi-billion dollar company? Multi-billion what? Revenue? Yes, because they managed to monetize their traffic and keep it up despite fierce competition (attempts... by Google, for example). Market-cap? Yes because enough people who aren't typically extremely careless with their money invested in FB. > All of their success comes from the luck of being first First at what?
- Houshalter 10y ago
  >Yes, because they managed to monetize their traffic and keep it up despite fierce competition (attempts... by Google, for example). They didn't have to do anything, that's the point. They have such strong network effects. They would have to completely fuck up to lose even a tiny fraction of their userbase.
  - Haul4ss 10y ago
    But they do have to do something. In fact, they're constantly doing a whole bunch of somethings to keep people in their ecosystem. Apps. Messenger. Instagram. They didn't get that network by just being first(ish). They got it by continuously being the best of the imperfect options, and they can lose it just as easily.
  - Magnets 10y ago
    >They would have to completely fuck up to lose even a tiny fraction of their userbase. Look at Blackberry and Nokia. You don't necessarily have to fuck up, it can be you're simply not moving fast enough. Flickr, Myspace, bebo, there are plenty of companies who were early and lost their advantage or went out of fashion.
logicallee 10y ago
>Does anyone here really believe Facebook deserves to be a multi-billion dollar company? Not as soon as I find a link or invite to Marxbook, the non multi-billion dollar Facebook competitor all my friends and everyone I meet every day is on! Unfortunately - I don't know how - but somehow I can't seem to find a link. Do you need an invite? I've tried the obvious search[1] but I simply can't find it. Since this is an anonymous forum where I won't face any repercussions, I am going to admit to you that in my heart of hearts I am beginning to question whether Marxism really works at all. In moments of weakness, I think the answer to the question >Does Facebook deserve to be a multi-billion dollar company? is, "obviously yes!". It would help if I could at least sign up to Marxbook. I feel like I'm not being a good member of the Proletariat. How does North Korea do it? Maybe we could try shutting off the electricity every night. It might not make Marxbook happen, but it would at least reduce Facebook usage. Capitalist pigs. [1] https://www.google.com/search?q=marxbook https://www.google.com/search?q=marxbook
- badsock 10y ago
  Have you considered the possibility that there might be more than two ways (Randian capitalism or Marxist communism) to run an economy?
  - logicallee 10y ago
    we're not talking about the economy, but rather a social network that everyone you know is on - all your friends, and all their friends, and everyone you meet. How is that not going to be a billion dollar company? Like, what do you imagine here?
    - kspaans 10y ago
      Only half-kidding: they could pay a dividend to their content-creators rather than their investors. The company would be worth a lot less but the content-creators would be way happier (maybe).
      - 10y ago

lazyjones 10y ago

> Does anyone here really believe Facebook deserves to be a multi-billion dollar company? Multi-billion what? Revenue? Yes, because they managed to monetize their traffic and keep it up despite fierce competition (attempts... by Google, for example). Market-cap? Yes because enough people who aren't typically extremely careless with their money invested in FB. > All of their success comes from the luck of being first First at what?

Houshalter 10y ago
>Yes, because they managed to monetize their traffic and keep it up despite fierce competition (attempts... by Google, for example). They didn't have to do anything, that's the point. They have such strong network effects. They would have to completely fuck up to lose even a tiny fraction of their userbase.
- Haul4ss 10y ago
  But they do have to do something. In fact, they're constantly doing a whole bunch of somethings to keep people in their ecosystem. Apps. Messenger. Instagram. They didn't get that network by just being first(ish). They got it by continuously being the best of the imperfect options, and they can lose it just as easily.
- Magnets 10y ago
  >They would have to completely fuck up to lose even a tiny fraction of their userbase. Look at Blackberry and Nokia. You don't necessarily have to fuck up, it can be you're simply not moving fast enough. Flickr, Myspace, bebo, there are plenty of companies who were early and lost their advantage or went out of fashion.

logicallee 10y ago

>Does anyone here really believe Facebook deserves to be a multi-billion dollar company? Not as soon as I find a link or invite to Marxbook, the non multi-billion dollar Facebook competitor all my friends and everyone I meet every day is on! Unfortunately - I don't know how - but somehow I can't seem to find a link. Do you need an invite? I've tried the obvious search[1] but I simply can't find it. Since this is an anonymous forum where I won't face any repercussions, I am going to admit to you that in my heart of hearts I am beginning to question whether Marxism really works at all. In moments of weakness, I think the answer to the question >Does Facebook deserve to be a multi-billion dollar company? is, "obviously yes!". It would help if I could at least sign up to Marxbook. I feel like I'm not being a good member of the Proletariat. How does North Korea do it? Maybe we could try shutting off the electricity every night. It might not make Marxbook happen, but it would at least reduce Facebook usage. Capitalist pigs. [1] https://www.google.com/search?q=marxbook https://www.google.com/search?q=marxbook

badsock 10y ago
Have you considered the possibility that there might be more than two ways (Randian capitalism or Marxist communism) to run an economy?
- logicallee 10y ago
  we're not talking about the economy, but rather a social network that everyone you know is on - all your friends, and all their friends, and everyone you meet. How is that not going to be a billion dollar company? Like, what do you imagine here?
  - kspaans 10y ago
    Only half-kidding: they could pay a dividend to their content-creators rather than their investors. The company would be worth a lot less but the content-creators would be way happier (maybe).
    - 10y ago