Why you keep using Facebook, even if you hate it

The network effect is Facebook’s biggest selling point, and the root of many of its problems.

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What happened with Cambridge Analytica highlights this perfectly.

Before many people join a network, it may not be so useful. But the more people join, the more useful it becomes. That’s the network effect. Facebook is a step beyond that — it’s the network effect on steroids.

This is what makes facebook so great — it knows everything about you! — and what makes facebook so awful — IT KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU. And while its network of 2.13 billion monthly users doesn’t pay any money to use the core service, Facebook makes plenty of money — millions daily — buy selling that user data. And everyone on the site agreed to this when they signed up.

Source: VOX
ChaosEnginesays...

“If you’re not paying, you’re not the customer, you’re the product”

I quite like the concept (or at least the original user facing concept) of Facebook. I have friends and family scattered all over the world and it’s nice to see what they’re up to.

So I would happily pay a few bucks a month for a service that is like Facebook but doesn’t sell your data.

But the problem is the network effect... that service is only useful if everyone is on it.

CrushBugsays...

Not to be all hipster and such, but I stopped using Facebook about 5-6 years ago, when Google Plus came out. I liked Google Plus, because it put me more in contact with people of similar interests and seemed to help me avoid crazy family members.

After a year or so I stopped using G+ as well. I just didn't find that kind of connection useful to me. Not sure what it was, but it felt like I had to participate in order to get anything out of it.

I was probably off all social media until about 2 years ago when I got on Twitter. I have been pretty happy with the asynchronous nature of it.

I really should just delete my FB account.

antjokingly says...

What about VS?

CrushBugsaid:

Not to be all hipster and such, but I stopped using Facebook about 5-6 years ago, when Google Plus came out. I liked Google Plus, because it put me more in contact with people of similar interests and seemed to help me avoid crazy family members.

After a year or so I stopped using G+ as well. I just didn't find that kind of connection useful to me. Not sure what it was, but it felt like I had to participate in order to get anything out of it.

I was probably off all social media until about 2 years ago when I got on Twitter. I have been pretty happy with the asynchronous nature of it.

I really should just delete my FB account.

Phoozsays...

Blue's News brought me here as well! 11 years ago I think! Thanks Blue!

CrushBugsaid:

NEVAR!

I started coming here from link from Blue's News and finally signed up in the summer of 2006, so coming up on 12 years ago.

V'Sift fo' life, y0.

Paybacksays...

God damn I feel SO superior never having used Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and everything else.

My friends know how to get a hold of me. Everyone else can go fuck themselves.

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