Another Facebook Post
Yes, I'm writing about Facebook again. Yesterday, news broke that the site will be open to ANYONE with an email address, and not just students and faculty. While privacy restrictions will be readily available, this is clearly a step in the MySpace direction.
Up until now, Facebook made smart business decisions that positively affected its users and advertisers. Because their end users do not pay their bills (like a retail site), Facebook has opened its doors to nonprofit groups and political candidates, knowing that mobilizing a young base for these entities could make the world a better place. But now, EVERYONE will be on Facebook, which of course, makes it not as cool.
I asked a teenager about the changes, and she thinks even more people will dump MySpace for Facebook, which some have done for a variety of reasons. Facebook has a cleaner look, doesn't burden you with dating service ads, and easily connects you with friends. And, your parents can't snoop your profile and pictures, even if they're a professor somewhere.
While parents still shouldn't be able to see what pictures and thoughts their students are posting, it seems like once again a decision by Facebook brass has upset its loyal users. Will they jump ship? Time will tell. But, I think that Mark Zuckerberg, who has already made lots of money off of his toy, is getting read to sell. A few months ago, folks were speculating the site could get close to $2 billion on the open market. Now that its potential for eyeballs looking at ads has greatly increased, I can see Mark walking off into the sunset around Christmas time with maybe double that.
Up until now, Facebook made smart business decisions that positively affected its users and advertisers. Because their end users do not pay their bills (like a retail site), Facebook has opened its doors to nonprofit groups and political candidates, knowing that mobilizing a young base for these entities could make the world a better place. But now, EVERYONE will be on Facebook, which of course, makes it not as cool.
I asked a teenager about the changes, and she thinks even more people will dump MySpace for Facebook, which some have done for a variety of reasons. Facebook has a cleaner look, doesn't burden you with dating service ads, and easily connects you with friends. And, your parents can't snoop your profile and pictures, even if they're a professor somewhere.
While parents still shouldn't be able to see what pictures and thoughts their students are posting, it seems like once again a decision by Facebook brass has upset its loyal users. Will they jump ship? Time will tell. But, I think that Mark Zuckerberg, who has already made lots of money off of his toy, is getting read to sell. A few months ago, folks were speculating the site could get close to $2 billion on the open market. Now that its potential for eyeballs looking at ads has greatly increased, I can see Mark walking off into the sunset around Christmas time with maybe double that.
Comments (4)
11:17 AM
i'm curious as to why parents shouldn't be able to see who their children's contacts are?
perhaps for college students who are paying their own bills this would be true, but as long as a child is dependant on their parent, there is a certain level of responsibility to that parent...
do you have kids?
11:24 AM
No, I don't, and when I do, I will be concerned with what they're doing online.
The issue for me is not the parental oversight (this is between individuals parents, kids, and families). The issue is that the users (students) are upset that their folks COULD see what they're doing, which of course, they don't like.
I'm not saying parents should or should not know what their kids are doing online. That's up to each family.
1:53 PM
I'm going to agree with daverudd on the children's comments. Having gone through college I would have to also comment on the idea of college students getting mad at their parents for posting thoughts online. My bet is that most computers used are paid for by those parents.
Anyway, what about the whole idea about diversity being a great thing??? Opening up this site to more than just college kids allows for a much larger exchange of ideas, friendships and opportunities.
I know your not keen on the whole anonymous Commentor, so I appologize in advance.
Love coolpeoplecare.org Keep up the good work!
6:51 PM
what if opening up facebook proves to be the smartest business decision of all? take me for instance. i am too old to have a facebook - too far removed from school to have a working college email address. but i hate the dating service crap on myspace. so if i move from myspace to facebook...and convince my friends to do the same...then perhaps facebook's traffic and online presence will increase. or not. time will tell.
oh - and i definitely think parents should be keeping up with what their child, teenager, college student is doing online. ;)
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