5 ms·

Of all the companies out there, Facebook is the least arbitrary and inconsistent I know! Just imagine they're a perfectly rational, self-interested actor who p

by jfarmer 13y ago

Of all the companies out there, Facebook is the least arbitrary and inconsistent I know! Just imagine they're a perfectly rational, self-interested actor who plays realpolitik all the time and plan accordingly. For example, how does FB benefit from your product? Does it hamper them in any way? Even the name (Social "Fixer") does not align with FB's interests. The rational thing to do would be to shut you down. If you had leverage or tied into a broader strategy they might not. But you don't, so they did.

mattkruse 13y ago
Agreed. Unfortunately, this is a personal side project. If it were my business, I would certainly approach it differently. The only benefit they get is that lots of people continue using Facebook who otherwise may have given up on it. Oh, and they sometimes seem to add features that I come up with first. But in general, yes - I am someone they would like to just make go away. Which is fine - they have a right to do that. But everyone should be aware of this, because at some point when Facebook decides they don't like your politics, or hobby, or sexual choices, they'll arbitrarily shut you down, too. So, don't give them any more than you can afford to lose. But I see many companies investing a ton of time and money into their Facebook strategy. My point is to beware, because it may not be a good choice.
- jfarmer 13y ago
  The main aspect of your product they didn't like us that you were inserting yourself between Facebook and their users. Any platform provider would try to stop that because that relationship is the foundation for every platform's value. The only possible chance you have around this is growing so fast and becoming so essential that the platform provider can't punish you without punishing themselves. See, e.g., Facebook and Zynga.

5 ms·

Of all the companies out there, Facebook is the least arbitrary and inconsistent I know! Just imagine they're a perfectly rational, self-interested actor who p

by jfarmer 13y ago

mattkruse 13y ago
Agreed. Unfortunately, this is a personal side project. If it were my business, I would certainly approach it differently. The only benefit they get is that lots of people continue using Facebook who otherwise may have given up on it. Oh, and they sometimes seem to add features that I come up with first. But in general, yes - I am someone they would like to just make go away. Which is fine - they have a right to do that. But everyone should be aware of this, because at some point when Facebook decides they don't like your politics, or hobby, or sexual choices, they'll arbitrarily shut you down, too. So, don't give them any more than you can afford to lose. But I see many companies investing a ton of time and money into their Facebook strategy. My point is to beware, because it may not be a good choice.
- jfarmer 13y ago
  The main aspect of your product they didn't like us that you were inserting yourself between Facebook and their users. Any platform provider would try to stop that because that relationship is the foundation for every platform's value. The only possible chance you have around this is growing so fast and becoming so essential that the platform provider can't punish you without punishing themselves. See, e.g., Facebook and Zynga.