…Facebook Is So 2007
1. Nobody’s talking about Facebook anymore. Most of 2007 was abuzz with facts and figures, rumours of investment and ridiculous valuations, not to mention privacy protection and data usage. Anyone and everyone knew what was going on with the platform - the good, the bad and the ugly. These days, it seems as if nobody really cares anymore. And those that do are talking about its demise. (Type Facebook into Google News - the only news making headlines is bad news.)
2. While there is no doubt that Facebook is a force to be reckoned with, the fear factor has dissipated. And for what may be the first time ever,Facebook saw a decline in membership numbers in the United Kingdom, a key strategic market. As Henry Blodget notes, you can’t read too much into this, but it is stillsomething worth keeping an eye on.
3. The company climbed into bed with Microsoft. Enough said.
4. Facebook seems to havelost its mojo. The buzz is gone, critics jumped all over the Beacon fiasco, users are annoyed by the clutter and relentless notifications, application overload is paralyzing, and the original gated community had its doors blown off. What was unique and different is now mainstream and unexciting. There can be little doubt that average time spent declinessignificantly as one’s membership matures.
5. At the end of the day,Facebook just isn’tfun anymore. The Ed Techie nails it - “Fun is the killer app.” Facebook used to be exciting and new. The relationship was lustful and you couldn’t get enough. Now, you know each other too well and the spark is fading. You wake up, say hello and reach for the sports section.
Update: Looks like Facebook Fatigue is happening in the U.S. Oh, oh!
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:49 am
…and?
Who cares if Facebook is “over”. Maybe apart from actual Facebook stockholders, potential Webmasters trying create their own social networking site (more or less impossible now with all the other ones around) and attention seeking cam whores who need another place to spread their face over the internet.
February 22nd, 2008 at 12:01 pm
are you sure this is not about SN’s in general? - I think the hawks are swooping way to early - maybe they got over buzzed right out of the gate but I see fb as an adolescent, lots of life ahead and lots to learn.
February 22nd, 2008 at 1:58 pm
It may be about social networks in general, but I think it’s more a case of moving on to the next hot thing. I’m sure a year from now we will be saying similar things about Twitter and its clones (which are arguably social networks as well). There’s definitely scope for FB to grow and mature, but it’s now just another internet venture looking for ways to monetize its popularity. Maybe 2007 was about the hype and 2008 will be about the reality. Just a thought.