6 ms·

Facebook (and Google Search) are the most widely used software on Earth, ~3-4B MAUs each. I don't know what else something needs to do to qualify for "world run

by Maro 4y ago

Facebook (and Google Search) are the most widely used software on Earth, ~3-4B MAUs each. I don't know what else something needs to do to qualify for "world runs on [it]".

newsclues 4y ago
There is a big difference between something that is highly used, and something that is highly valuable.
- achenet 4y ago
  both are highly valuable - to every business that advertises on them, and to users who find information (Google) or connection (Facebook) via those platforms.
  - bombcar 4y ago
    Facebook disappearing tomorrow would cause a bit of a kerfuffle but life would go on. Same for Google search. But if VISA disappeared, there'd be hell to pay. In reality none of these companies will disappear overnight, but they could get remaindered pretty quickly, because they're not that "important" per se. That's not to say the companies don't do things and people don't find value, but Facebook disappearing is an entire different class of thing from Exxon-Mobil shuttering.
    - bradleyankrom 4y ago
      To regular users, yeah, the impact would be tough but materially trivial (maybe?). But to the small businesses for which FB, Instagram, and Google advertising are their primary sources of customers? Devastating.
      - bombcar 4y ago
        If a small business's primary source of customers is advertising, they're already dead (or something very niche, like a funeral home). Primary source of new customers, maybe, but a small business should be built around acquiring customers and keeping them for a longtime.
    - alsodumb 4y ago
      You are grossly underestimating how many business rely on Google and Facebook. A small example: a ton of delivery companies depend on Google maps API for localization and route planning - think Doordash, Uber, etc. Not just that, lots of transit agencies and freight companies use Google API for planning and optimization. Half of the work force probably can't reach their destination without Google maps. I'm pretty sure many critical components of Exxon-Mobil depend on some tools provided by Google.
      - Lendal 4y ago
        That's why he specified "Google search" and not "Google"
    - istinetz 4y ago
      >But if VISA disappeared, there'd be hell to pay. Would it, though? I'll just get a mastercard. 5$, a trip to the bank, ezpz. Or pay for stuff via Revolut. Or cash. There'd be a bit of chaos, for like 2 weeks. Invoices will still get paid, ATMs would still work.
      - ryanbrunner 4y ago
        It'd probably be more straightforward than that. Your bank would switch over their cards to Mastercard, and send you a new one in the mail. I don't even think it's inconceivable that the Mastercard card # range is salvaged and you can retain the same card number.
  - newsclues 4y ago
    I really don't see the unique value of Facebook on that level, other that keep certain people off other social media platforms.
nsxwolf 4y ago
There's way, way more software that exists. All that boring enterprise Java and Spring stuff HN loves to ridicule represents the dark matter of the software engineering universe. There's tons of money in it and armies of developers working away without the praise or adulation of their Bay Area betters, but they're making good money and putting food on the table.
jacobsenscott 4y ago
What are those 3B people doing? Spreading conspiracy theories, looking at cat pics, and searching for porn. Whenever someone is on FB or google they are less productive, not more. Sure, a small fraction of those people are using FB or google for "work", but their work is usually just finding ways to get more people to waste more time on google or FB, or some other nonproductive activity people get paid for.

by Maro 4y ago

Facebook (and Google Search) are the most widely used software on Earth, ~3-4B MAUs each. I don't know what else something needs to do to qualify for "world runs on [it]".

newsclues 4y ago

There is a big difference between something that is highly used, and something that is highly valuable.

achenet 4y ago
both are highly valuable - to every business that advertises on them, and to users who find information (Google) or connection (Facebook) via those platforms.
- bombcar 4y ago
  Facebook disappearing tomorrow would cause a bit of a kerfuffle but life would go on. Same for Google search. But if VISA disappeared, there'd be hell to pay. In reality none of these companies will disappear overnight, but they could get remaindered pretty quickly, because they're not that "important" per se. That's not to say the companies don't do things and people don't find value, but Facebook disappearing is an entire different class of thing from Exxon-Mobil shuttering.
  - bradleyankrom 4y ago
    To regular users, yeah, the impact would be tough but materially trivial (maybe?). But to the small businesses for which FB, Instagram, and Google advertising are their primary sources of customers? Devastating.
    - bombcar 4y ago
      If a small business's primary source of customers is advertising, they're already dead (or something very niche, like a funeral home). Primary source of new customers, maybe, but a small business should be built around acquiring customers and keeping them for a longtime.
  - alsodumb 4y ago
    You are grossly underestimating how many business rely on Google and Facebook. A small example: a ton of delivery companies depend on Google maps API for localization and route planning - think Doordash, Uber, etc. Not just that, lots of transit agencies and freight companies use Google API for planning and optimization. Half of the work force probably can't reach their destination without Google maps. I'm pretty sure many critical components of Exxon-Mobil depend on some tools provided by Google.
    - Lendal 4y ago
      That's why he specified "Google search" and not "Google"
  - istinetz 4y ago
    >But if VISA disappeared, there'd be hell to pay. Would it, though? I'll just get a mastercard. 5$, a trip to the bank, ezpz. Or pay for stuff via Revolut. Or cash. There'd be a bit of chaos, for like 2 weeks. Invoices will still get paid, ATMs would still work.
    - ryanbrunner 4y ago
      It'd probably be more straightforward than that. Your bank would switch over their cards to Mastercard, and send you a new one in the mail. I don't even think it's inconceivable that the Mastercard card # range is salvaged and you can retain the same card number.
- newsclues 4y ago
  I really don't see the unique value of Facebook on that level, other that keep certain people off other social media platforms.

nsxwolf 4y ago

There's way, way more software that exists. All that boring enterprise Java and Spring stuff HN loves to ridicule represents the dark matter of the software engineering universe. There's tons of money in it and armies of developers working away without the praise or adulation of their Bay Area betters, but they're making good money and putting food on the table.

jacobsenscott 4y ago

What are those 3B people doing? Spreading conspiracy theories, looking at cat pics, and searching for porn. Whenever someone is on FB or google they are less productive, not more. Sure, a small fraction of those people are using FB or google for "work", but their work is usually just finding ways to get more people to waste more time on google or FB, or some other nonproductive activity people get paid for.