Sometime ago, the question was ‘What is Facebook?’.Now the question is ‘Who are Facebook?’.
The second question is really starting to vex me. In the past 10 years, I’ve gone from major Facebook fan to someone who uses their services as a web based utility, rather than a main online hub, as many do.
I use Twitter for communications online these days and other services like LinkedIn, Foursquare and Instagram have become more interesting and time consuming (in a good way) for me. You’ll notice I’ve mentioned Instagram there, a company that Facebook bought for $1 Billion and done something not many expected them to do. They have kept it separate.
This should have been the first indication of Facebook’s intent but we were all so up in arms about it (mostly because we hadn’t just been given $1 billion) and decreed the service would die and fold in to the main site. It hasn’t and at over 200 Million active users, it won’t. Fast forward to the WhatsApp purchase. A lot more cash but it is clear that Facebook messenger may die or get folded in to WhatsApp. Why? WhatsApp is used by more people and has the potential and capacity. Also, it’s an independent app and Facebook see about 1 Billion users on mobile (the figures are a little sketchy for my liking). Earlier this year, Facebook launched Paper, a dedicated app for viewing the news feed in a more engrossing and engaging way. Taking one key part of the main hub and spinning it out to refine it and hopefully build engagement.
See what I’m getting at here yet?
Facebook have bought Oculus VR and will keep it as a separate business. It’s own app, if you will.
As we in the technology sector have aged, so have our peers that own and run the services we use. Look a little further from Facebook and you find Google. The search and advertising company that have made acquisitions in the past year that have included the manufacture of advanced robotics and artificial inelegance. Facebook have just gone and bought the leading company in the development of Virtual Reality and are looking to acquire a a company that makes solar powered drones that can spread internet the most remote places in the world with no existing infrastructure.
Both of these companies are owned and operated by our fellow geeks, who, now that they have access to billions of dollars are looking to secure the development of some of the most important technological developments. They are their own version of Kickstarter but on a massive scale.
Ask yourself, with the money of these companies, if you could buy, invest, develop and protect an exciting technological development, why wouldn’t you? It’s the ability to take something you have faith in and help it grow and develop. For this, my opinion of Facebook, as a company, is shifting massively.
Yes, at it’s core Facebook is website filled with adverts. Google is a search box that leads to adverts. Yet both of them are becoming so much more than that. They are open (to an extent) and are like you and I, passionate about technology.
One final thought! The Facebook / Google model is quite different to that of Apple and Microsoft, who make acquisitions that fold in to the main business and go to enhance their main products. Two different strategies, that both work but at this point in the Eco System War, it’s unclear to see which strategy will win.
[Image Source: Daily Tech ]
