New Kid on the Block
Technically, this "kid" has been around for a little while, but only recently has been open to the public. Move over MySpace, everyone is moving to Facebook.
MySpace is done, well almost done. It's still out there and millions of people are using it, but the moment that Facebook accepted anyone, the crowd decided to move onto something better.
Facebook isn't new. It started in 2004 by a Harvard sophomore who wanted to keep in touch with his classmates. Until recently, membership was reserved to university students only (anyone with a university email). Now, the doors are wide open and Facebook is direct competition to MySpace.
With it's standard template, Facebook is easier on the eyes than some of the awful designed pages of MySpace. Otherwise, the idea isn't new. Once signed up, you search for your friends, people you actually know by first and last name. Facebook doesn't do pseudonyms, which makes it a more respectable site and source for finding old classmates or co-workers or friends you haven't seen or spoken to in ages.
Once signed up, you can update your profile, fill out some details, post photos, upload your blog, invite people to events and have them directly RSVP and all sorts of other things.
In concept, it's similar to MySpace and many other networking websites. But in design and functionality, it's completely different. No more annoying songs, ugly designs, photos that distort pages, instead you get one design that works.
Another thing about Facebook is that it continues to cross boundaries with Internet's lack of anonymity. First, full names are used and secondly, every action you make on Facebook is broadcast to all your friends. You comment on a photo, everyone knows. You break up with your significant other, everyone knows. You decide to change your political views, everyone knows. Facebook reiterates the idea that there are no secrets on the Internet and we are not afraid to publicize our daily activities.
We publicly allow others to know our every step and in return we want to know theirs.
It makes me wonder what other sites are going to come out there (or already exist) that will become direct competitions.
Could Zooomr become a threat to Flickr?
Could Google Video be the next YouTube?
The competition will always be there. It's the trends and word of mouth that make sites popular. If enough people hear about something new, the crowd just follows the leader. Who knows what Web 2.0 website could be making waves.
MySpace is done, well almost done. It's still out there and millions of people are using it, but the moment that Facebook accepted anyone, the crowd decided to move onto something better.
Facebook isn't new. It started in 2004 by a Harvard sophomore who wanted to keep in touch with his classmates. Until recently, membership was reserved to university students only (anyone with a university email). Now, the doors are wide open and Facebook is direct competition to MySpace.
With it's standard template, Facebook is easier on the eyes than some of the awful designed pages of MySpace. Otherwise, the idea isn't new. Once signed up, you search for your friends, people you actually know by first and last name. Facebook doesn't do pseudonyms, which makes it a more respectable site and source for finding old classmates or co-workers or friends you haven't seen or spoken to in ages.
Once signed up, you can update your profile, fill out some details, post photos, upload your blog, invite people to events and have them directly RSVP and all sorts of other things.
In concept, it's similar to MySpace and many other networking websites. But in design and functionality, it's completely different. No more annoying songs, ugly designs, photos that distort pages, instead you get one design that works.
Another thing about Facebook is that it continues to cross boundaries with Internet's lack of anonymity. First, full names are used and secondly, every action you make on Facebook is broadcast to all your friends. You comment on a photo, everyone knows. You break up with your significant other, everyone knows. You decide to change your political views, everyone knows. Facebook reiterates the idea that there are no secrets on the Internet and we are not afraid to publicize our daily activities.
We publicly allow others to know our every step and in return we want to know theirs.
It makes me wonder what other sites are going to come out there (or already exist) that will become direct competitions.
Could Zooomr become a threat to Flickr?
Could Google Video be the next YouTube?
The competition will always be there. It's the trends and word of mouth that make sites popular. If enough people hear about something new, the crowd just follows the leader. Who knows what Web 2.0 website could be making waves.
posted by Anna Kat at 9:39 AM
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