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"Perhaps one day not long from now, everything on the Web will be a mere extension of Facebook." - a very optimistic view of the growth of FB , to put it mildly

by ivenkys 17y ago

"Perhaps one day not long from now, everything on the Web will be a mere extension of Facebook." - a very optimistic view of the growth of FB , to put it mildly.

michael_dorfman 17y ago
Sure. But remember that there was a time in recent memory where the notion that AOL would be a mere extension of the web was a very optimistic thought as well, or that some young upstart would knock AltaVista from king-of-the-hill in Search. "Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future."
- csomar 17y ago
  +1, may be something new come and take it! It's just a luck for facebook that no other new startup screw them (Twitter is good, but too limited comparing to Facebook)
scott_s 17y ago
Optimistic, yes, but I think that's FB's goal.
StrawberryFrog 17y ago
Optimistic for Facebook, pessimistic for the rest of us.
- ivankirigin 17y ago
  It is entirely possible that the incentives are aligned in such a configuration - where to maintain that position, facebook needs to be better for all parties involved. Think of this with respect to google. Their business grows linearly with search usage, so their incentives are to create faster and more open access to the internet. Don't believe that "don't be evil" bullshit. They act the way they do because it makes them a great deal of money. AND, it benefits pretty much everyone expect dinosaur incumbents. [this is just my opinion]
  - bricestacey 17y ago
    Gordon Brown called this "sophisticated enlightenment" in a recent TED talk.. that is, aligning one's personal interests with what is good for those outside your immediate obligations. I wouldn't be so quick to call it evil. It's about as good as it gets. True altruism doesn't sustain a business.
    - StrawberryFrog 17y ago
      That might work for many business, but I'm more inclined to side with those who said: "Did anyone seriously ever think facebook was not evil? Facebook will stab your grandma in the eye for a quarter"
wicknicks 17y ago
You mean everything on the "social web"..

by ivenkys 17y ago

"Perhaps one day not long from now, everything on the Web will be a mere extension of Facebook." - a very optimistic view of the growth of FB , to put it mildly.

michael_dorfman 17y ago

Sure. But remember that there was a time in recent memory where the notion that AOL would be a mere extension of the web was a very optimistic thought as well, or that some young upstart would knock AltaVista from king-of-the-hill in Search. "Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future."

csomar 17y ago
+1, may be something new come and take it! It's just a luck for facebook that no other new startup screw them (Twitter is good, but too limited comparing to Facebook)

scott_s 17y ago

Optimistic, yes, but I think that's FB's goal.

StrawberryFrog 17y ago

Optimistic for Facebook, pessimistic for the rest of us.

ivankirigin 17y ago
It is entirely possible that the incentives are aligned in such a configuration - where to maintain that position, facebook needs to be better for all parties involved. Think of this with respect to google. Their business grows linearly with search usage, so their incentives are to create faster and more open access to the internet. Don't believe that "don't be evil" bullshit. They act the way they do because it makes them a great deal of money. AND, it benefits pretty much everyone expect dinosaur incumbents. [this is just my opinion]
- bricestacey 17y ago
  Gordon Brown called this "sophisticated enlightenment" in a recent TED talk.. that is, aligning one's personal interests with what is good for those outside your immediate obligations. I wouldn't be so quick to call it evil. It's about as good as it gets. True altruism doesn't sustain a business.
  - StrawberryFrog 17y ago
    That might work for many business, but I'm more inclined to side with those who said: "Did anyone seriously ever think facebook was not evil? Facebook will stab your grandma in the eye for a quarter"

wicknicks 17y ago

You mean everything on the "social web"..