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> Facebook should provide an API so competing and extending services can be freely built on it, restoring competition and innovation and niche utilities it brin
by patrickk 9y ago
> Facebook should provide an API so competing and extending services can be freely built on it, restoring competition and innovation and niche utilities it brings.
Facebook has zero incentive to do this voluntarily. It would be good for users (effectively turning social media into something like email) but terrible for Facebook's platform lock-in and all-important quarterly advertising revenue.
As an example of them going in the opposite direction, they've shut down XMPP in the past to force users to use their messenger exclusively[1] rather than 3rd party chat applications.
[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9266769 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9266769
- Toenex 9y ago> Facebook has zero incentive to do this voluntarily I think the parent was suggesting some level of intervention and imposition. However, given the worldwide reach, which organisation could do this? I can't see how single nation government would be effective. I wonder if Facebook could begin by unlocking data a fixed period after it has been posted? Assuming the value to Facebook of a posting erodes over time.