The Death of Facebook

There is a fundamental problem with a lot of these social networking sites that don't support a true business model and that is, they're dependent on people visiting them and using them. Wow that's stating the obvious. In the business world this happens all the time with trendy products, people buy them, then they move on, the difference being the companies who sold these products made a chunk of money and are able to get out with at least a smile. With something like Facebook and Twitter, you're shot at making money is usually through being acquired. And most of the money is in the form of some sort of abstract valuation. No real cash.

So here's what I'm trying to say, human behavior is extremely unpredictable and tremendously sensitive. If another Facebook comes along that is better and catches on faster, then people will move on or switch over. Which leaves Facebook with nothing. Or even worse, if people start getting tired of using Facebook, because it keeps changing, or because it loses its novelty, well then in a matter of moments an entire user base can up and vanish.

All it really takes is for a trend to start. Now I was a huge Facebook advocate when it first came out. I mean I loved it! But now it's getting to be a little too much. I seem to know a little bit too much about every single person in my network. As much as I love my friends, they'll probably all agree that they could care less where I've travelled recently, what job I'm working at, where I was last night, what I'm doing at this exact moment or what I'm about to do in the exact next moment. It's also very hard to keep up with all of these sites, from managing emails about parties I'll probably not attend, to being poked, to determining whether I want to give access to my network to an old high school acquaintance that I probably don't even like.

And I'm already reading about this in papers as they're calling it Social Networking fatigue. People getting tired of using Facebook and Twitter. Maybe we all just need a break? I know I do.

It's funny because you would think that all these social networking sites are bringing people closer together. But really, they're keeping us further apart. Maybe you understand what I mean?

Now look I'm not trying to offend anyone here who really likes these sites. Trust me I'm a number one fan of Facebook. All I'm saying is that if it reaches a point of overkill then there could be a falling out.

Now here is where I contradict myself. I just recently learned that Facebook has reached the 200 Million user level. Which is ridiculous. And when they released their new look and feel, with the Twitter like stream, that caused a huge uproar, Facebook's activity levels actually went up.

So what do you guys think? Will these sites survive? Are you getting tired of them? Or are you loving them?