If I Owned Facebook

July 18, 2007 · Comments

chrisbook There are lots of people complaining about this and that with regards to Facebook. Jeff Pulver points out that if you don’t like Facebook, make apps to fix it. I liked the premise. Jeremiah Owyang points out that Facebook holds onto your data and won’t let go. He’s right. And that’s NOT very Web 2.0, is it?

So, how would *I* rebuild Facebook, or do something different, based on what they did well:

  1. Build a platform with an open API with clean design – just like Facebook.

  2. Make the invitation process 2 clicks max and account for various relationship types – not like Facebook, but fixable.
  3. Encourage 3rd party app building, and viral takeoff of such – just like Facebook.
  4. Build a reputation engine (who knows me that you know that should vouch?) – not exactly like Facebook.
  5. Put RSS and porting options on EVERY module within the platform – COMPLETE opposite of Facebook. (I think I can get the status off there and that’s all, right?)
  6. Surrender STATUS and give it to Twitter/Pownce/Jaiku – Facebook is holding on to this one.
  7. Encourage edge applications like widgets and free data out to the network. – COMPLETE opposite of Facebook, barring a few kludge hacks.

It’s pretty close, and yet, the difference is SIGNIFICANT. Several smart folks have realized that Facebook is the new old-AOL. Walled garden stuff. That has to change, because right now we’re all in love, but should there be a falling out of some kind, the rats leaving the ship will be a pretty quick move. Don’t you think?

So, what would YOU do if you owned Facebook?

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  • Chris, Im with you on the changes especially since I am tired of re-friending and bounce joining social networks. Were more like locusts than grasshoppers at that point. In my own discussion about trends in data and computer history ( http://www.oreillygmt.eu/2007/07/the-new-thing-... ) I suggest that the next big thing is the company which finds a way to authorise/share and trust those connections across the network. As Jeremiah and myself have considered via twitter the OpenID is certainly the way to begin.

    Facebook probably have a couple of months to implement some radical wall building techniques otherwise that first blush of enthusiasm will wither to the necrotic withering of interest.
  • I'm attending FacebookCamp Toronto so I could get my feet wet with how to create your own apps. I'd love to create one for my comics/podcast.

    But everything you listed is perfect for an improved Facebook. Especially a way to seperate personal from business. Maybe not in seperate accounts but a way to identify who can access your personal life and who can access your business. The reputation engine would certainly help the marketplace app.
  • 1. Allow me to check off all my friend invitations and approve all as a group. The current process of Accept, Ignore this step, Click is painful.

    2. Update or do away with the 'how we met' categories. Are you kidding me!? They usually don't fit.

    3. Open up discussion group content to Google to the wisdom is shared. It'll drive people in, not send them away. So simple.

    4. When I have a message from someone on Face book, send it to me in an email. Don't make me visit hte site to read it. Don't worry, I'll come back to Facebook to reply.
  • #4 Hoffman's Rapleaf App does something like this...across multiple platforms.

    #6 FB should just enable the porting of status across the services you mentioned.
  • There are all great ideas...
  • If I could make a change, I'd make a friend filter/sets system like they have on Pownce and Livejournal.
  • facebook is growing fast, in general the future of communication is in control of the social mobile networks. Their growing past each one attaacts a different audience, peekamo hit their audience on a more persoanl level through text, facebook is hitting everyone through pics, groups. Networking is now a business itself.
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