This Time isn’t Different: The Facebook Era isn’t Over

I was recently called out on Twitter for dismissing this post titled The Facebook Era is Over which pointed to a number of trends working against Facebook which would soon diminish the service. Thankfully the article doesn’t fall into the trap of thinking the privacy scandal of the day will be their undoing but it does still have arguments which although compelling on the surface are actually weak.

The Facebook Era is Over

Specifically

1. Private messaging apps have existed for the entirety of FB’s existence. Facebook has countered by buying the biggest and copying features of most innovative. There’s no sign this strategy isn’t working.
2. Vertical social networks have been a threat for a while and FB has countered this by itself becoming a generic vertical platform (groups) and going after a few dedicated verticals like Events & Marketplace with Dating on the way.
3. Podcasts, email newsletters and niche brands all have to build a following somewhere and that somewhere is social media. Many of the same niche creators who complain about Facebook end up going to Instagram to build their following which is literally a Facebook product. So this is just a bet that Twitter & Instagram become better places to build a following than the big blue app. I’d bet a year’s salary that Instagram wins that battle against Twitter.

Now Playing: Travis Scott — Sicko Mode