Facebook: Back to the Future

Is Facebook the next big thing, or is it just the latest in a series of fads that we'll soon forget? I've discussed this question before (Social Networking - Required Reading, December 10, 2010). Now John Dvorak weighs in. Suffice to say, he's not impressed with Facebook. From PC Magazine:
"Why I Don't Use Facebook" by John C. Dvorak
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2375715,00.asp

Summary: "Facebook is basically AOL with a different layout and all the same retro problems."

"Facebook is actually the logical end-point of what AOL should have become. AOL had some web initiatives, such as Geocities or Hometown, which could have easily morphed into Facebook, but it didn't. It could have made the transition rather easily. I can't find anyone who argues with this premise."

"Facebook is retro because, like AOL, it's retro by its nature. It's a closed system. Some people like a closed comfy system and others don't. I, for one, don't. If I want a personal webpage with all sorts of information about myself, I'll go to Wordpress.com and make one. By doing this, I don't turn over any data, control, or information to an onerous third party to sell, use, or exploit. I can close down the site when I want. I can say what I want. I can pretty much do whatever."

"Facebook is a simple system for the masses that do not really care about technology and do not want to learn anything new except something easy like Facebook."

"There is no reason for anyone with any chops online to be remotely involved with Facebook, except to peruse it for lost relatives. So, next time you log on, remember it's really AOL with a different layout.

"Welcome to the past."


This post, in the comments section, by David, sums up Dvorak's article pretty well, I think.

David:
"Darren, what you don't get is the title of the article: John is explaining why *he* doesn't use Facebook, not why no one should use. What he points out is that by subscribing to Facebook you are trading off your freedom to maneuver as you want for a standard, simple, interface to your online presence.

"If you are OK with that, as most people who just want to 'connect with old friends' are, then you can just go and create a profile. If, on the other hand, you don't want to a) provide a third party with a lot of private data b) depend on that third party to keep your internet presence, setting up a custom webpage is just a matter of hours."