The death of Facebook……

[andrew]

I was having a chat earlier spurred on from the interesting (although sometimes unfocussed) “Great Facebook” debate at Bima. Now to believe many there apparently there is some great opportunities for brand to tap into such networks for their own corporate gain – obviously in a way that is becoming to the medium???

But what does becoming to the medium mean? In my opinion some of these foke have ‘gold fever’ and look at such enteritis as only potential $$’s.

Well I hate to burst your bubble but simple talking to people in such networks like they are your buddy (added or otherwise) isn’t going to cut it.

In the first instance I believe that Facebook only has one good year left in it anyway before people will just get bored of pokes, widgets and long lost friends getting in contact. Not too mention the potential ‘turn off’ from companies trying to leverage it – just think how annoying MySpace is with SPAM esq. messages form companies leading you to porn!

Undeniably, online social networks have help to create and perpetuate a new type of online behaviour and media consumption – but thinking Facebook will be around for ever is just naive – after all we are talking about probably the most fast moving environment ever created – and if there is one thing nature has taught us is that ultimately large & clunky always gives way to small & speedy when the rules of the game change – and guess what those rules have already started to change.

And I am not talking about my mates who unequivocally state that they have ‘had enough’ of Facebook, but instead I am talking about a more profound appreciation of why facebook works in the 1^st place. It’s about 'Social Objects' not so much social networks. Anthropology tells us that people revolve around things that help us socialise with our peers and Facebook did this very well for the 1^st time. But now people want to have a Facebook experience but more selectively, and not with everyone they have ever known – but rather based around there specific interest at specific times – hence the success of sites like the plannersphere – this is the model of the future and companies will have a hard time chasing this fragmented social networking landscape.

Instead companies should focus on creating great experience for us to all go to and enjoy in the real world and just let us talk about them in our networks and let WOFM do its stuff….

Just a thought? What do you think the future is for FB?

[Dr. Taly Weiss]

I wrote a post om Facebook opening up an effective communication paths:

10 tools to make meaningful (instant) friends

I belive that Facebook will survive as long as it will keep on making easy friends which are valuable to us.
see it on:
http://www.trendsspotting.com/blog/?p=194