Farcebook

So on an oldies station this morning I hear the 1975 hit Convoy - the song that launched the CB radio craze. And I go that was social networking technology then. Now we have Facebook. Rumors are it is worth $ 6 billion. 

Usually mainstream media and bloggers are busy taking potshots at each other. But Facebook has both agreeing - The Guardian and Scoble.

After all it is about US - because WE are Time Magazine's "Person of the Year"

But that's precisely the problem. Too much focus on US. And what we are doing in our personal lives. No wonder Tom Wolfe calls us "Narcissistic Shrieks".

Not enough on issues, products. Oh sure, many of my Irregular friends rave about Facebook as a platform and its technology.

But we already have blogs and our reader networks. Google Groups networks. LinkedIn networks. Plaxo networks. Twitter Networks. 

Many of my Facebook friends are already on LinkedIn. Most of my LinkedIn contacts, I am sure, just want me as a scalp to add to their list of hundreds. Do we need another channel? 

If so, I will take the channel with "10-4. Rubber Duck." In fact, I may make a duckie my photo on Facebook. Nah, what I have now - a big question mark -  is more appropriate. Till this luddite can figure out what to do with yet another social network.

Comments

[Luther]

I like Linkedin but its just a static directory of resumes, no news or reason to use the site. They also try to charge you when you want to contact someone. You can contacts anyone for free on Congoo.com or facebook.com

My 2 cents

[Zac Echola]

Facebook platform is making it so Facebook is all you really need in a social network, an aggregation of social networks if you will.

You can already read and post to Twitter via their Facebook application.

But then again, I use linkedIn differently than facebook. Facebook is for people I actually care about. LinkedIn is about building a loose network to namedrop my way into potential job interviews.

[David Scott Lewis]

At this point, I'm reluctant to join Facebook. Bottom line: No time.

Here's an idea: Merge the AlwaysOn Network with LinkedIn. This might be a good idea!!

Anyway, way too much hype over something that doesn't have a sustainable competitive advantage. Competitive advantage, yes; sustainable, no. At least Google had/has it's PageRank algorithm.

Critical mass is an advantage, but Friendster had it, MySpace had it, Facebook is getting it, but who says some other platform can't come along and blow away Facebook? Way too shaky.

Like the "Farcebook" tome, too.