OK, I get that people like social web applications. By that I mean I’m at least cognizant of the fact that these applications are big business right now. I understand the draw of apps like LinkedIn or Twitter too. Both of these apps provide a very specific, quantifiable service, and they provide it very well. But apps like Facebook, for example, seem just plain goofy to me. Here’s why:
I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with it.
It’s just kinda “there”. For some reason the phrase ‘Large and in charge’ comes to mind. It seems some people use it to stay connected with old friends and this, interestingly, was how I was first introduced to Facebook.
But most people, as it appears to me, use it to play games like “Who’s in your ninja army?” and “Let’s have an online pillow fight!” I’ll pass on the ninja pillow fight. Unless, of course, it’s a real pillow fight with real ninjas and I can really whack you in the head with something.
But perhaps more importantly, how is Facebook different from any other broad-based social network? It’s not.
What’s up with this whole “Wall” thing?
I mean, seriously, what’s it for? As far as I can tell its sole purpose is to allow you the opportunity to go to your friends’ Facebook and write something really friendly and sophisticated on their Wall like, “yo, let’s have a ninja pillow fight.”
OK, OK, I know it’s real purpose. It allows you to ask questions like, “Hey, what’s up? Long time no see.” And then, to reply, your friend can go to your wall and write “Hey, what’s up? Long time no see.” Of course, that’s not a real answer to their question. But then again, it wasn’t really a question.
It’s like when a guy is walking down the street and sees another guy and says, “What’s up?” This, my friends, is not meant to be answered with anything other than another question or possibly an expression like, “Yo” or “Hey”. If someone says “What’s up” to you and you answer “Nothing much, how ‘bout you?” You’ll come across as a socially stunted goofus.
It’s the same thing with the Wall on Facebook. It’s not meant to be used to have a conversation. It’s purpose is to say “What’s up?” to your friends. To which they should respond, on your Wall, “What’s up?” Any attempt to have a conversation via yours or anyone else’s Wall will make you look like a socially stunted goofus.
Conversations are for private messages, a.k.a. “Facebook Email Service”. They’re emails folks. That’s all private messages are.
15 billion people all saying “What’s up?” to each other; over and over and over again. That’s what the Wall is. I’ll pass.
So far we’ve got an online social app that lets you email people and say “What’s up?” Wow, this application is looking better and better. Oh, wait, I forgot about the ninja pillow fights … sigh
3. Why is Facebook valued at $15 billion?
What’s more, this breaks down to each user being worth $300! Of course, we should keep in mind here that at least one reason there are so many “users” is because it’s impossible to actually delete a Facebook account. Once you create one it can only be put in a “standby” state until it’s “reactivated.” I would bet my shirt that there are millions of people who have a Facebook account just to have one; and more that have one who don’t want to have one and just can’t delete it. You’re stuck with an account … forever.
So if you take into account that much of the user-base for Facebook are not actually users the numbers would probably look more like $1,000 per user valuation. Is each active user of Facebook really worth $1,000? No. The answer is a resounding no. The price is in the hype. Facebook simply isn’t worth that much money. And sooner or later the hype bubble will burst.
I’m not saying that I think all social applications are a waste of server space. I’m not even necessarily saying that Facebook is a waste of server space. All I’m saying is that as far as I can see Facebook is no different from any other broadly based social network and it’s usefullness is squelched by it’s desire to “be all things to all people.” Social networks are best when they’re focused, direct and ninja-pillow-fight free.
10 Comments
I\’m sure you know you missed the point: for most people it is basicaly a facebook. Somewhere to look at pictures of you and your friends.
Otherwise, sure.
Used to have Facebook, but then thought I\’d give it up for a change, just to see. That was over a year and a half ago, but from talking to friends it seems like the third party apps and stuff are getting ridiculous.
People always say it connects them with friends they wouldn\’t otherwise be in contact with. Well, personally, I\’d rather stay in contact with those who I can make an effort to outside of avenues like Facebook. Otherwise, I don\’t think I\’m honestly going to miss much not talking to those few people who wouldn\’t talk to me otherwise.
I do like being able to see what my friends are doing, their updates and things like that. But seriously, if I get invited to another Ninja or Pirate club, or get a sheep thrown at me one more time, I\’m going to hurt someone. And not just by pwn-ing them through Facebook. The 3rd party apps are ridiculous.. .no wait, what\’s a word that means beyond ridiculous? because that\’s what they are. a total waste of my bandwith, which is precious around here.
i think the original purpose of Facebook was good - connect with people. But now it\’s turning into the college and post-college version of MySpace - all glitz and stupid \”here\’s half of my face up close\” type pictures, and how many people can write on my wall in one day? so yeah.. dumbness.
@Ivan: Of course, you mean \”where you can look at half of your friend\’s faces up close\”
@Ben & Anna: What we\’re seeing is a vast move of high school students away from Myspace towards Facebook. That, at least in part, is why Facebook is becoming the new internet ghetto. Thankfully we don\’t have to deal with autoplay music and animated gif\’s on Facebook ;).
For me, Facebook is more of an aggregator… I use various apps to pull in content from other social networks I belong to. If anyone cares to keep up with what I am doing, usually keeping an eye on my profile is the way to go.
But seriously… considering this is what I typically use FB for… http://www.friendfeed.com is going to quickly become a replacement for fb for me…
Exactly! What is it for? No idea. That whole wall thing is just an awkward, roundabout way of sending people a non-email email, that\’ll take longer for them to respond to than just sending them a real email, which you already have because you know these people otherwise they wouldn\’t be in your walled-garden network in the first place.
Phew.
To me, then, FB is a catalogue. Some kind of phone book where people can look me up if they lost track of me and make the effort to sign up themselves. They can then shoot me a message and if I want to see them again, it\’s up to me to reply or not.
FB is an enormous spam filter, basically.
aren\’t there apps now so you can add music or videos to your FB profile? and i\’m pretty sure i saw on there some \”wallpaper\” type things that are animated. but like the bajillion apps - superlatives, moods, flixster, quote of the day, superpoke, super wall, etc, aren\’t just as bad as stupid animated gifs?
i do like the fact that i can go, oh shoot i haven\’t written to so and so in months and shoot them a wall post. so i guess i\’ll put up with having fish thrown at me and getting dropkicked and tickled on a regular basis.
For me FB is simply a way to initiate a connection, but beyond that it\’s not a place where I want to stick around and play. I\’d much rather invest time in writing a good blog post than completing a survey or updating folks on what I\’m doing at the moment (besides, isn\’t that what Twitter is for?).
I\’m glad that I have not nor ever will be a \”thriving internet member\” (I am quoting myself). Long story short, I find all social networking on the internet to be more useless than not networking, this is why I choose not to do it. If someone could show me the advantage of making or keeping up with contacts on the internet then maybe I\’ll change, but I\’ve only seen it as a distraction from genuine relating.
Great article.
I hope you\’ll read my blog..
Bye