According to a recent article in USA Today, some social networking users are finding that time offline is becoming more rewarding than time online. In fact, a few users have deleted one or more of their social networking accounts while others have fallen off the grid entirely thanks to the efforts of free software like Web 2.0 Suicide Machine and Seppukoo. These programs remove a user’s online existence in a matter of minutes and allow the user to reboot his/her offline existence. Other less ambitious users have gravitated to programs like Freedom that allow Apple computer users to go offline for up to eight hours at a time. If you ask me, I think that these programs give the users a little more control over their online existence, but what do you think?
Should social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter be concerned about this free software and new trend to go offline or should they see this trend as an opportunity to listen to the groundswell and improve their sites and experiences for their users? Apparently, Facebook sees this trend and the software as a threat while Twitter does not. In fact, Twitter is not concerned about user retention and believes that most users will return or new users will appear. While Facebook, on the other hand, is clearly running scared and has taken legal action against sites like Seppukoo to stop its efforts of confiscating its users.
With sites like Friendster and MySpace going the way of the walkman, Facebook should be concerned about losing its clout; however, bullish behavior will not help its case any. It seems to me that this kind of behavior may be seen as dictatorial and may cause some users to feel trapped thereby leading to an exodus of larger proportions than originally anticipated. If Facebook wants to stay on top, then it needs to worry more about providing a better product for its customers and less about a few disgruntled users that need to go offline anyway. If these users need a little more control over their online experiences in order to enjoy them, then companies like Facebook should allow their users these freedoms even if it may result in a temporary user loss. Take a cue from Twitter, Facebook, and give the people back their freedom. Who’s it hurting anyway? Everyone needs a vacation some time, so let him/her have it. You’ll be happy you did.
Should social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter be concerned about this free software and new trend to go offline or should they see this trend as an opportunity to listen to the groundswell and improve their sites and experiences for their users? Apparently, Facebook sees this trend and the software as a threat while Twitter does not. In fact, Twitter is not concerned about user retention and believes that most users will return or new users will appear. While Facebook, on the other hand, is clearly running scared and has taken legal action against sites like Seppukoo to stop its efforts of confiscating its users.
With sites like Friendster and MySpace going the way of the walkman, Facebook should be concerned about losing its clout; however, bullish behavior will not help its case any. It seems to me that this kind of behavior may be seen as dictatorial and may cause some users to feel trapped thereby leading to an exodus of larger proportions than originally anticipated. If Facebook wants to stay on top, then it needs to worry more about providing a better product for its customers and less about a few disgruntled users that need to go offline anyway. If these users need a little more control over their online experiences in order to enjoy them, then companies like Facebook should allow their users these freedoms even if it may result in a temporary user loss. Take a cue from Twitter, Facebook, and give the people back their freedom. Who’s it hurting anyway? Everyone needs a vacation some time, so let him/her have it. You’ll be happy you did.
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Very valuable points you have shared here.. till yet i didn't think about this issue. now im really interested. I was just really wondering where social networking sites such as Myspace and Facebook.com get their revenue from. this question came to me while on your blog, it is free to join these sites so where does the revenue come from? my friend told me the advertising method through they will get more money, is this right? let me know some points about this..
ReplyDeleteHi, Jenifer. To the best of my knowledge, these sites are free to join. I believe that sites like Facebook generate revenue from advertising and user paid options. For more information, please review the following articles:
ReplyDeletehttp://krahulg.wordpress.com/2008/06/26/social-networking-websites-revenue-models/
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/techinvestor/industry/2008-05-11-social-networking_N.htm
http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2008/12/14/whats-the-revenue-model-for-social-networking-sites/