Is Facebook Worth $100 Billion?

[Martinus]

I can see myself leaving Facebook for something better, but I doubt I'll ever give up on internet access. The only time I don't use it is when I am abroad on vacation. And that's just because roaming is so expensive.

There are enough wifi hotspots out there (except perhaps in the middle of the wilderness) that this is not an issue anymore either.

[Zanza]

I like travelling to the middle of the wilderness though.

[Josquius]

I've lost count of the number of people who've recently told me they're looking for something different/better/less intrusive/something that isn't such a time sink etc, some people are poised to start the next migration.

But how many people actually do move elsewhere?
I'm increasingly disliking facebook and I wish something else would pop up and knock it down but facebook is just everywhere these days, everyone is on facebook because everyone is on facebook.
The only way I could ever see facebook being taken down is if everyone makes an account elsewhere for other reasons and this elsewhere slowly shifts into taking over what people use facebook for since everyone is already there for this other thing. What this other thing could be though...who knows- probally facebook and they'll install it on their site.


What was it which undid myspace I wonder?
The crappy photo handling? Lack of privacy? As on paper...it was better. Having the music angle too. Especially since facebook got rid of networks.

[Phillip V]

What was it which undid myspace I wonder?
The crappy photo handling? Lack of privacy? As on paper...it was better. Having the music angle too. Especially since facebook got rid of networks.

Facebook was clean, uniform, and uncluttered. No customization. No ads. People used their *real names* as part of exclusive real networks (required confirmed .edu e-mail address). No photo limit. *tags* etc.

[garbon]

What was it which undid myspace I wonder?
The crappy photo handling? Lack of privacy? As on paper...it was better. Having the music angle too. Especially since facebook got rid of networks.

Well myspace definitely had very crappy infrastructure. Thing was often quite slow and often loaded funky because of the customization features.  Plus it got mad annoying to have web music start up everytime you went to someone's page.

And Phillip - facebook lost that .edu bit a long time ago before it became with with the wider population.

[Eddie Teach]

Not even many will.

I was being generous and using many in an absolute quantitative rather than relative sense.

[mongers]

I'd make an outside bet that many people might decide to engage more with real life and cut back on their internet use, we are after all still in the first flush of internet use/overuse, well at least for most people. Most lLanguishites are the exception in being such early adopters of the interwebs social characteristics

Except that many users are youth who have always grown up with technology mixed into their social lives (from web to phone). I can see them giving up facebook but internet use?

Good job I didn't say that, then. 

You are aware of what cut back means ?

In this context, cut back could mean reducing by 20% or a quarter, a third or halving ones use, all of these reductions could be described as cutting back.

[mongers]

My favourite post in this thread so far:

Martinus

Re: Is Facebook Worth $100 Billion?

You are ignoring this user. Show me the post.

[garbon]

I'd make an outside bet that many people might decide to engage more with real life and cut back on their internet use, we are after all still in the first flush of internet use/overuse, well at least for most people. Most lLanguishites are the exception in being such early adopters of the interwebs social characteristics

Except that many users are youth who have always grown up with technology mixed into their social lives (from web to phone). I can see them giving up facebook but internet use?

Good job I didn't say that, then. 

You are aware of what cut back means ?

In this context, cut back could mean reducing by 20% or a quarter, a third or halving ones use, all of these reductions could be described as cutting back.

The same freaking difference.

Why would individuals who have grown up "connected" all their lives suddenly cut the amount of time that they spend connected? What sense would that make?

[mongers]

I'd make an outside bet that many people might decide to engage more with real life and cut back on their internet use, we are after all still in the first flush of internet use/overuse, well at least for most people. Most lLanguishites are the exception in being such early adopters of the interwebs social characteristics

Except that many users are youth who have always grown up with technology mixed into their social lives (from web to phone). I can see them giving up facebook but internet use?

Good job I didn't say that, then. 

You are aware of what cut back means ?

In this context, cut back could mean reducing by 20% or a quarter, a third or halving ones use, all of these reductions could be described as cutting back.

The same freaking difference.

Why would individuals who have grown up "connected" all their lives suddenly cut the amount of time that they spend connected? What sense would that make?

So if I showed you ways of cutting back on your electricity usage, say 20 or 30%, to save money, that would have exactly the same out come as if you just said "to hell with it, I'm cancelling my contract with electricity supplier" ?   

[garbon]

Is this the deflect so that you can deflect from your mistake in suggesting that the youth of today are going to start cutting back their internet usage?

Anyway, I often leave my lights on when not home.

[Martinus]

Is this the deflect so that you can deflect from your mistake in suggesting that the youth of today are going to start cutting back their internet usage?

Anyway, I often leave my lights on when not home.

Me too. Besides, it's ridiculous to compare electricity use to internet use. We don't "use electricity" as an entertainment or to work - sure, it powers our ability to be entertained or work, but it does not directly translate into fun or productivity. On the other hand, usage of the internet is the activity we actually do for fun or work.

[garbon]

Sorry didn't mean to say deflect twice.

[mongers]

Is this the deflect so that you can deflect from your mistake in suggesting that the youth of today are going to start cutting back their internet usage?

Anyway, I often leave my lights on when not home.

Do please carry on attacking that strawman, you've constructed around some of my words. 

Oh and where did I say the youth, oops my bad, that's the foundations of perhaps your next project a wicker man.

[garbon]

You said people. A big portion of people - especially as time rolls forward, are the youth of today or those that were youth when the internet became a big thing.  Saying that it is a strawman to suggest the youth play a big role in the future of internet use might be a convenient dodge but ultimately futile as it is something that needs to be addressed.