Digital for Real Life

  • http://www.darcyvoutt.com Darcy Voutt

    I have to disagree partially with this because I believe this is a very narrow look at the website.  I do agree that there are gaps that need to be addressed, so that you can filter whom things get posted to for one example.

    The thing is, MySpace was a very narrow service and was built on hype.  Facebook has past its growth hype and is far integrated itself into the daily lives of people.  A method of sharing much more than simple party photos, but entire lives with families and friends afar.  

    They have done a good job developing applications to allow people to further share, where many flaws are other businesses/websites has filled in the gaps.  Don’t overlook its integration into many websites for commenting to sharing.  

    I don’t think it’s a forever business, I would be surprised if it makes it much past a decade, but I believe this viewpoint is a tad bit narrow.

  • http://www.dondy.com Dondy

    Ever since Facebook blew up 5-6 years ago, entrepreneurs and moguls have been trying to create the next best thing. The problem was they were trying to create what you mentioned above. A place or what Darcy calls it a website!

    Its become more than that now. I would definitely call it a useful tool now. Yes it is a modern version of a phone book. But its also email, calendar, forums, twitter, brand platforms, photo library and soon music & movies library. All these and more are utilities we value. Social media reality TV may come and go but these things will still be useful!

    Even if there were another website that’s cool and people gravitate too, they will have to integrate Facebook for it to be successful. Cause people will share their activities there on Facebook, where everyone else is at. Facebook is here to stay for as long as Microsoft, Apple, IBM and Google!

  • http://www.facebook.com/scottmeleskie Scott Meleskie

    I agree with Darcy & Dondy’s comments… and tend to disagree that Facebook will disappear sooner than we think… unless we think Facebook will live forever. Yes Facebook will not exist as it does now forever, but they’ve done a marvelous job adapting and evolving. They’ve changed the game.

    I think what’s interesting about the platform is that it can be as closed as you want it – if you want to connect with trendsetters only, you can. If you want to make sure you aren’t sharing your personal life with your Mom, Grandma, and Aunts – you can. I think that this has ensured its success and longevity right there. The difference between a Facebook and a site like MySpace (which I don’t think can even compare), is that Facebook is so much more useful, and yet so much more controlled. The key word here though is USEFUL. Until another site/service comes along that is more useful than Facebook, I don’t see it disappearing.

    …and if ever that site does come along, Facebook will probably eat them up! The big blue machine is getting scary big!

    • http://www.dondy.com Dondy

      Hi Scott,

      Are you suggesting that Facebook is now like the boom days of Microsoft, buying and killing the competitors? :)

  • Anonymous

    This is an interesting take on how and why facebook will die and I too only partially agree.  I don’t think it’ll be when the kids grow up – it’s more about how technology will. Believe me, I’d love to think that when facebook goes it’ll be a lengthy, painful death. But my bet is on a rebirth or something that we just can’t fathom yet. For now people will still talk,  plan parties and share stuff with everyone they’ve ever met in their life… whether they like it or not.

    I like shiny new things and as a social network facebook doesn’t fulfill that no matter what new gizmos they add. That said, I’m not completely a hater – I love that it authenticates me in other places and when the mainstream grasps that (or trusts that) they’ll hang out elsewhere! The outcome will be less time spent on facebook as a social platform with users preferring their niche networks. And, I agree that facebook will be like the old white pages of yester-year but it should be able to evolve with the tech it relies on.

    As a base platform.. likely here to stay, as it’s defined right now – it will die.

    • http://www.dondy.com Dondy

      Hi Trish, nice to see you on our blog!

      What shiny new things do you want? Or do you just don’t want anything from facebook? :)

      • http://squarebug.tumblr.com/ Trisha Quenneville

        and not to beat a dead horse (hehe) but did you see http://altly.com/ ?  

        • http://www.dondy.com Dondy

          Yup I actually replied with a link to that website a bit earlier today! Look up :)

  • http://twitter.com/jpvincennes Jean Pascal Mathieu

    I have more and more friends who quit FB, arguing they’re just fed up with always the same people over storytelling their life, and/or concerns around privacy. Any similar insights ?

    • http://www.dondy.com Dondy

      I’ve had friends that quit FB and now are back cause they feel left out! Also I’ve had friends that was on the fence or total haters and now lightly threading their way in FB.

      So basically if you don’t want to see the people over storytelling their life you can just block their content without them knowing it. More and more people are finding out about this feature and a similar feature is available for the FB chat. Create a group where you can be viewed as offline!

      The moral of the story is… If you want to use it as a tool you should be aware of all the features you have available for you to customize it for your use.

    • http://www.dondy.com Dondy

      This website might be of interest to you! http://blog.altly.com/ They are trying to build an alternative to Facebook.

  • Anonymous

    i like your new blog!   

    shiny new things that bring people physically together or make it feel that way. what impresses me is the possibilities around things like linkedin’s “in person” widget on their iphone app. or how about facetime/google talk?  couple that tech with a game or app and let the craziness begin! current problem is that it’s not mainstream but as capable devices get into more homes the possibilities of togetherness will grow.  the kids crave (not to mention – need) real-life interactions… they just don’t have the means yet.

  • Olivier Binisti

    Am I not using Facebook when I connect with my friends? Am I not using Facebook when I share photos whith my family?
    Cannot we say that Facebook has become a tool and a place? And could the best of both worlds? (yes, seems like a troll)

  • Michael Malone

    4Chan and Tumblr.

  • http://twitter.com/jpvincennes Jean Pascal Mathieu

    Facebook Sees Big Traffic Drops in US and Canada as It Nears 700 Million Users Worldwide
    http://www.insidefacebook.com/2011/06/12/facebook-sees-big-traffic-drops-in-us-and-canada-as-it-nears-700-million-users-worldwide/

  • http://twitter.com/jpvincennes Jean Pascal Mathieu

    That Story About How Facebook Lost Users In May Was A Bunch Of Craphttp://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-users-2011-6

  • Digital Ant

    I find it a bit as a simplistic argument, I think Facebook is and could be much more than just a directory of friends but it definetly has some challenges ahead, especially prior to its hypothetical IPO in May 2012. 

    Check this article (http://bit.ly/iNmHor) to finde another point of view. Congratlations for the blog team!!

  • Axel_vader7

    That’s a nice article.
    Facebook is just a place to stay and go, a socialstream. Regardless of how much people use it , it is not possible to become more than what it is. The nowadays fad…