5 ms·

With things like GNU Social you can have your own social network effectively free and you 100% control it. How can this compete with that? The only real way is

With things like GNU Social you can have your own social network effectively free and you 100% control it. How can this compete with that? The only real way is the network effect (all your friends are on it so you feel like you have no choice but to join because it's going to be very hard to get everyone to switch to your network). WT Social doesn't have that, so... ?

woofcat 7y ago
The problem with all solutions to facebook (and this one) is getting a critical mass to join them. People use Facebook because _everyone_ is on facebook. I don't need to think "Is my cousins boyfriend on Facebook?" you just know they are. Without that assurance, you'll end up with two invites for a function, and that is more work for little gain.
- pmoriarty 7y ago
  "People use Facebook because _everyone_ is on facebook." There was a time when everyone was not on Facebook. Every social network with a critical mass now started without one. Back around when Facebook started, MySpace was massive. Now it's extinct.
  - MadWombat 7y ago
    Exactly. But all this tells you is that there was some added value that Facebook brought that made people sign up even when it didn't have critical mass. Currently, the only network I know of that might be in the right place to compete with Facebook is Instagram. Which is basically the same, but with more pictures of food.
MadWombat 7y ago
> With things like GNU Social you can have your own social network "I'm a mog - half man, half dog. I'm my own best friend."
dinkleberg 7y ago
WT:Social is never going to have a Facebook level network effect, but it's certainly going to be higher than GNU Social. I just created an account 5 mins ago and I was number 100k+ so they're off to a good start.