3 ms·
Facebook is far from where Microsoft were in 2003-2007. Most people (90-something percent?) could chose between Microsoft or Apple or no computer at all. Ordin
by flexie 8y ago
Facebook is far from where Microsoft were in 2003-2007. Most people (90-something percent?) could chose between Microsoft or Apple or no computer at all.
Ordinary consumers could not use a text editor, a spreadsheet, send an email, or browse the internet, without doing it form either a Windows or Apple computer. Apple was a secluded niche for graphical designers and the like. Almost everybody else used a Windows computer. There were whole industries where everybody only used Windows operating system and the Office suite and where you could not work without.
Almost nothing ties me to Facebook and most businesses are not dependent on Facebook in any way. I can use computers, phones etc. without Facebook. I can contact people without it, write to them, see their pictures and videos etc. I can go online without. Most companies nowadays function perfectly fine without Facebook. If Facebook disappeared, only a few niches such as game studios, advertisers etc. would truly lose customers or the ability to work with others. Most advertising could be done through other channels in a matter of hours. Contacts with friends could be made in days using other platforms.
I was going to say that Facebook is where Microsoft were at some point in the late 70s or early 80s when it was just one out of several alternatives, but the comparison is just not good.
- toastal 8y agoThat's you though.... In many countries, Facebook is the 'free' internet citizens can interact with friends on. It can be used to leverage and ruin your social cred because of how intertwined and unchecked Facebook is in places like Myanmar.
- drdeadringer 8y agoI was thinking similar. What if OP was living in a place where a cell phone and Facebook were "The Internet"? What if that was all OP knew and understood regarding such topics?
- maire 8y agoSorry - but Facebook made it trivially easy for a small group to put up a website. This is why we depend on it more than you realize. You can go to a Facebook based business site without having a Facebook account. I try not to use Facebook. I had to let my family and friends know because they are setting up party invitations and making announcements on Facebook. OK - so far so good. They post on Facebook then send me a private message. Then the camp fire happened in California (the Paradise fire). My brother in law's house burned and he is staying with us. He is not technically literate. Butte county is putting all disaster recovery information and streaming town hall meetings through Facebook! So I am back on Facebook to help my brother in law rebuild his home!