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I don't think it's going to die as quickly as you think - it's a pretty sticky product. The network effects that made it attractive might kill it pretty fast wh
by PaulRobinson 5y ago
I don't think it's going to die as quickly as you think - it's a pretty sticky product. The network effects that made it attractive might kill it pretty fast when they evaporate, but it's going to be a major player in adtech for at least a decade, which might just give it time to be "saved" by some of the plays they're now pivoting towards.
On the ethics thing: they introduced some mechanisms around this, but the appointment of Nick Clegg to drive this as head of "Global Affairs" was always an eyebrow-raiser for those even slightly politically aware in the UK, and predictably less effective than FB management needed him to be (note: I voted Lib Dem in 2010 because I believed in his leadership - it's what he did next that showed the warning signs).
I think another quarter of decline and we might see a major shake-up, and I wouldn't be amazed to see Whatsapp getting payment (including crypto) functionality as a bit of Hail Mary to build another social network moat.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- whiplash451 5y agoAre we reading the same comment? @randomsearch said it would take decades for the company to decline.
- optimalsolver 5y agoRight, but PaulRobinson is thinking in geological time.
- pratnala 5y agoWhatsApp already does payments in India (and few other countries?) [1] [1]: https://www.whatsapp.com/payments/ https://www.whatsapp.com/payments/
- throwaway473825 5y agoThis is what I see when I click on your link: > The payments feature on App is not available in this country.
- sangnoir 5y agoAre you in India?
- throwaway473825 5y agoNo. Given that the link was used as a source, I thought I would see a list of countries where the payment feature is supported.
- rvz 5y agoIt is currently being piloted in the US and Guatemala. [0] This WhatsApp link also works. [1] [0] https://www.novi.com/how-it-works https://www.novi.com/how-it-works [1] https://www.whatsapp.com/payments/us https://www.whatsapp.com/payments/us
- nextaccountic 5y agoAlso in Brazil
- jack_riminton 5y agoI agree, despite this headline, the more I see fb becoming a part of everyday life for the vast majority of people (in the UK). It's amazing how much of what normal people consume and even buy now happens on fb. I wouldn't write them off just yet