Facebook: The Ultimate Social Network

 I haven't posted in a couple of days since I've been moving back on campus (oh Bentely...) and things have been a bit chaotic, the only thing that's calmed me down is Andy Kim's "Rock me Gently". I've also been really interested in writing a piece on Facebook, so here we go:

Social networks have existed since the beginning of man (it could also be argued with animals). From the earliest cavemen to the villagers in early Europe, Africa and more, to what we see today as the "ultimate" social network. (see History of Social network for quick video) One that exists over the internet, destroying boundaries and connecting people that otherwise never would. This ultimate social network is Facebook, and all others that it inspires in the future.   Click below, or the title to read more.

Chances are, if you are using the internet (since you are reading this blog), you know what Facebook is. It's the world's largest social network and even if you don't use it (because you live in a cave or are one of "those people" who refuse take advantage of it), chances are, a  friend does. I'm not going to bother explaining what it is, because, if you know what a blog is, I KNOW you know what Facebook is (plus based on what I know of my readers you guys are pretty tech savvy). I did find some VERY nice photo essays about Facebook's main headquarters, as well as Facebook around the world.

So aside from constant discussion between friends and family about newest photos on the social network or teenagers bickering of what Mike's boyfriend said about Tina or Lashandra (yes, Lashandra) Facebook comes up in the news almost every single time when it changes anything on the site. I've been on Facebook for almost 5 years, back when it wasn't cool and Myspace was still the place to be. I was mocked, and asked if I suffered some kind of mental disorder for leaving Myspace for some "nothing" website called Facebook. After I joined.... the world followed (I'm not attributing Facebook's rise to me, but well.... c'mon... let's all admit it..). Before I go on a diatribe about how all my friends who previously made fun of my use of Facebook over Myspace, today, have left the site for some time now and can't live without Facebook, let's discuss where controversy lies. 

Facebook is a platform. This platform allows us to put things up on it. These "things" are personal information covering everything from your favorite movie, your name, where you work, and photos or videos. Naturally, controversy comes up when there are concerns that the "private" information we put up online is sold to companies for marketing management and it just isn't safe anymore. However, the issue of privacy isn't the only thing that creates controversy. Any changes to the layout or functionality of the website always seems to create massive outrage (and unnecessarily so). Allow me to bash on the commoner for a second:

On the issue of layout and functionality changes. Too many people complain about the "new" changes Facebook makes to its product, so what are these changes based from? Statistics that Facebook collects from it's 500 million active users when they use Facebook. The company tracks ,en masse, how many people use the messaging system, how many people use the "like" button, how many photos are uploaded, etc. Then, based on this information, Facebook adjusts the website to compliment the userbase. In other words, Facebook makes changes to the website layout and functionality based on what people use the most, and how they use it. That's not to say that they haven't taken leaps before, however, every single time they have made a major change to the website (yes there was eruption) it has made Facebook a better product. I can't think of ONE thing that has made it worse. 

 

To those that a newer to the website, you may not appreciate what it used to be like. Simple, yes, but horribly unorganized.  There was outrage when Facebook instituted the "Wall," "Like" button, new messaging system (to come), New profile, News Feed, Live Feed, Top News, Facebook Places (mobile only), requirements for basic information, allowing third party applications etc. Yest they have all enhanced our experience on the social network. What would Facebook be without the "Wall" and now-a-days, all you see on the website (and 1 million other websites) are your friends "liking" everything from a photo album to a comment. What would we do without the News Feed where all the news of my friends is neatly organized! Will I have to MANUALLY look through my 300 plus friends to know what's going on in their lives... I'm glad that day is over.

This is a cool video about what happens every 60 seconds on Facebook.

Soon the company will be releasing (to everyone) the new messaging system as well as an automated system to make tagging friends in photos easier; both of which will cause more outrage. Before it happens, I might as well say, that through my experience from the time that Facebook was the new ,but rejected website by most people all the changes to the functionality have only made my experience better. I would DIE if I had to return to the "old" Facebook as it was 4-5 years ago..... *shoulders shiver*

On privacy, I think the issues raised are serious, but again, allow me to say this. You, as a Facebook user, put up (on your own) all your private information on a website that is made for sharing. You accept Facebook's Terms of Use Policy and Privacy Policy without question. (how many people have read that? .. surprisingly.. I have!) You know that Facebook uses basic information you put up to help manage its advertisement business... yet despite all this, you complain when you are afraid that your information isn't private? Yes, Facebook should make sure your private information isn't so easily accessed, but can you blame a company for using information given to it for FREE by the user to make money? I wouldn't.  Facebook has, however, adjusted to privacy concerns by simplifying it's privacy settings and giving more specificity of protecting almost every aspect of your account ( I said almost). There are also major controls to allow users to filter out spam in their news feeds in case you don't like what you are seeing.  All this put together, if you don't like what they do with the information, don't put it up. (Though some would argue that it no longer isn't a choice)

I will admit, that it looks that Facebook is going to take over the world (I can also make the case for Google). Facebook is rolling out its Facebook Deals for mobile users to earn free stuff and savings by "checking in" to a location such as... a GAP Store or Starbucks Cafe. Facebook has also partnered up with Microsoft's Bing, a Google rival, to personalize the Bing search engine with your Facebook account (this is happening with millions of websites that have the Facbook social plugin like CNN.com or simple like buttons like Mashable.com). Facebook Questions is working to create a massive database of useful information generated by users so you won't have to Google Search anything anymore (A higher quality Yahoo Answers and websites like that).

If you find yourself to be the person always rambling on about the evils of this company, check out this article by TIME about the 5 steps to Facebook Happiness. Also learning some Facebook Status tricks may also please you!

On my last TECH Update, I analyzed the Coporate side of many tech companies. One of those companies was Facebook, click here for that post.

Recently, Facebook has gotten attention after TIME magazine named Mark Zuckerberg as "Person of the Year" over what many assumed would be the winner, Julian Assange. They had an interesting interview with Mark Zuckerberg to understand what he sees about Facebook.

Initially, I , like the rest, was a almost outraged by the choice, but in reading the article written by TIME and all their coverage of him (much of it linked in this blog post), I have to agree that he deserves it. I would greatly recommend reading it, though it does deserve some time since it is 10 pages long).True Jualian Assange had a huge year (for better or worse) with everything he and his organization has done, but so has Facebook. I'll leave the smaller debate for others. I considered writing a piece defending the choice, but, well, as Clarke Gable said in the 1939 movie "Gone with the Wind" -- "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn."

I do have some concern (and I don't think it has gotten enough attention) that there is another tech bubble building. With Goldman Sachs' investment into Facebook, the company is valued at 50 billion dollars. Since it isn't a company, no one outside the company and its investors know the expenses and exact revenue Facebook accumulates. It is estimated that the company will go public in or around 2012, but until then, I've seen a massive amount of investment firms greatly investing in smaller tech startups while hoping that theirs will have the "big breakthrough" and become a new Facebook, Google, etc. Because of this eagerness, these firms are willing to invest huge sums of money that are worth more than what the start up is hoping that with its success they will make a profit. This kind of eagerness and valuation as seen with high profile cases with Facebook and the thousands of small start ups points to the fact that unless this slows down, we may be heading to a tech bust similar to the 90s. Here's an article questioning Facebook's value.

Facebook is the ultimate social networking tool, and for better or worse, with such an engineering-style company, it doesn't look like it will die anytime soon (though we can never be certain). It has proven useful to many while being tiresome and scary to others. Although Facebook is the largest social network, some may have noticed that I haven't mentioned things like online abuse or illegal activities that utilize social networking to make our lives worse. Although worth mentioning, I don't think they are a Facebook-specific problem, rather a larger social networking problem that even Facebook is addressing by working with some agencies to filter out illegal activities and decrease online bullying.  To Mark Zuckerberg, our lives wouldn't be the same without you, to the commoner who gets mad every time there is a small tweak to the site, you are about to get a whole lot more mad since the site is forever changing, get used to the constant changes.