Chris Brogan: Facebook and the Social Graph- Who Benefits
Tony Steward
· 1 year ago
At this point Facebook and it's advertisers are benefiting tremendously more than the users. Simply because the information they gather is helping them to take action and the information I see doesn't really "help" me do "much of anything." Yes it is tremendous to have a low level of effort tool to stay connected to people I wouldn't have otherwise - but I don't know that it is making my life any better. Though it does bring value to the "offline" relationships I already have.
Jonathan Mulholland
· 1 year ago
Bingo! That is the REALLY big question, one I think points the way towards how social networks can be used by business and brands...
I've been thinking for a while now that Facebook's advertising platform attempt has missed something really big - you've just highlighted what this is.
Social network relationships are like any other, they're based on value for the parties involved. e.g. Chris and I are friends because we value each other's opinions/knowledge/company etc.
As you point out in your post, the value proposition for Facebook advertisers is clear, but I've always struggled to understand what it is for Facebook members. What do I get by becoming a 'fan' of KFC or Firefox? So far I've yet to see a convincing explanation.
So can advertisers build meaningful, co-beneficial relationships with consumers? I think so, but they will have to be based on fair (or at least perceived to be fair) quid pro quo. I think that social networks that provide platforms for doing this will find success. That's why the service I'm keeping an eye on at the moment isn't Facebook - it's Ning.
Nathan Gilliatt
· 1 year ago
"Skip this step" is your friend.
Michael Martine
· 1 year ago
I deactivated my facebook account. That should tell you something. WordPress has been using XFN data in its blogroll for years. Plugin developers are working like mad to create ever more socialized plugins for WordPress. I'd love to see WordPress become more social over the next coupla years. That would be situation in which we all benefit.
Mathew Sweezey
· 1 year ago
I agree the ability to seal information is to easily transformed into a black hat operation. IF people can go on and take information off of my Facebook page then it would deter me from using facebook like a currently do. I think the whole Scoble debate is valid but i think for the sake of Facebook users being protected that information has to remain the property of Facebook, and should not be allowed to be farmed, because it is very personal info given under the pretext that it is safe on their site.
chrisbrogan
· 1 year ago
I guess I'm not as worried that the information I put up there can be taken, I just wish we'd build some tools that would be better used for more interesting information.
I'd rather know what my friends are interested in instead of sharing with advertisers WHO my friends are. The news feed isn't that. Sorry, but it's not.
mARSHAL SANDLER
· 1 year ago
Dear Chris, I have felt since using Facebook, that it could be the next Edsel! I don't want anything to fail but it is a ship without a rudder ! I spent time building a page, I in ,no way benefit from my efforts ! My stats show ,even when I post from my blog I get no activity ! I feel like Michael Martine, Worpress gives back ! Facebook needs less Teche and more belly to belly marketing ! The way it present's itself today I see no Value as a advertising vehicle ! I don't need Facebook to send you an E Mail !
Ainsworth Boyle
· 1 year ago
Facebook benefits 100%. The problem is, they will continue to win because the margin of people who actually realize this is only so big. The rest of the primary users have no idea how or why Facebook is as gigantic as it is.
Daniel Schildt
· 1 year ago
I have felt for long time that there is more possible problems with privacy of people in Facebook than what amount of features it can provide. It's not that FB wouldn't have quite nice things like forums but mainly that for most people sharing of social graph isn't good thing (atleast in long timeframe).
I'm optimistic about increased communication social networks can provide but quite pessimistic of service providers ability to protect privacy of people. Or don't people see any problems with sharing details of their private relationships? Has privacy lost it's meaning in todays world? What could be done to improve situation?
All Comments
I've been thinking for a while now that Facebook's advertising platform attempt has missed something really big - you've just highlighted what this is.
Social network relationships are like any other, they're based on value for the parties involved. e.g. Chris and I are friends because we value each other's opinions/knowledge/company etc.
As you point out in your post, the value proposition for Facebook advertisers is clear, but I've always struggled to understand what it is for Facebook members. What do I get by becoming a 'fan' of KFC or Firefox? So far I've yet to see a convincing explanation.
So can advertisers build meaningful, co-beneficial relationships with consumers? I think so, but they will have to be based on fair (or at least perceived to be fair) quid pro quo. I think that social networks that provide platforms for doing this will find success. That's why the service I'm keeping an eye on at the moment isn't Facebook - it's Ning.
transformed into a black hat operation. IF people can go on and take information off of my Facebook page then it would deter me from using facebook like a currently do. I think the whole Scoble debate is valid but i think for the sake of Facebook users being protected that information has to remain the property of Facebook, and should not be allowed to be farmed, because it is very personal info given under the pretext that it is safe on their site.
I'd rather know what my friends are interested in instead of sharing with advertisers WHO my friends are. The news feed isn't that. Sorry, but it's not.
My stats show ,even when I post from my blog I get no activity !
I feel like Michael Martine, Worpress gives back ! Facebook needs less Teche and more belly to belly marketing ! The way it present's itself today I see no Value as a advertising vehicle ! I don't need Facebook to send you an E Mail !
I'm optimistic about increased communication social networks can provide but quite pessimistic of service providers ability to protect privacy of people. Or don't people see any problems with sharing details of their private relationships? Has privacy lost it's meaning in todays world? What could be done to improve situation?