Has the Social Media Giant Facebook started to fade away?

[morestar]

The thing with Facebook is that it always "looks like it's on". In other words, when I visit Google+ it really is always dead. There may be a new post or two or ten but in the end it feels dry. With Facebook (obviously because of their numbers) I just know, that during those times when I'm sitting here but just bored and want a little action, Facebook will always provide that for me - decent groups, awesome pages - there's always a new post to be read and liked or shared.

Maybe it's the layout - I think it is cause when I visit the site, like I said, it seems there's always somewhere to click - some action to take - something to do. Not with Google+.

Sorry Schmoog...

[puamana]

@ weegillis : I just got the feel after I read your thread. Some of the people I know personally working in the IT platform they have recently deleted their profile from the facebook community due to the privacy concern. Would have been better if I have added the other mentioned two.

If I didn't have to maintain a facebook presence to manage my client's pages, I would delete my facebook account. I seldom go there unless I need to communicate with one of my 'FBfriends' or family that are on it.

I have joined the Diaspora* community, and frankly - I love it. I own my own content and it's where social is going to go in the end. There's something for everyone, and groups and links are based on affinity and interest, (using #tags) so you have opportunities to connect up with people from all over the world who share you interests. It's a great crowd. I urge you to check it out at www.joindiaspora.com

[PoisonJam]

I thought Google+ launched with a much better interface and the Circles thing blew Facebook groups out of the water (Facebook still haven't matched its ease of use). I really don't think as highly of the new Google+ interface though.

Problem is, all my friends are on Facebook so I can go play with other SEOs on Google+ or stay on Facebook with my real friends. Easy choice.

[claybutler]

I'd say Facebook has already crossed it peak. Domestic growth has nearly stopped. Five percent this year as opposed to 24 percent in 2011 and 89 percent in 2010. Foreign growth is excellerating but domestic users represent nearly ALL of their revenue. So pretty much anyone who wants a FB account has one. They should had done the IPO a year ago when they we considered godlike. Now they are a growing concern, especially in the privacy areas. Someday soon there is going to be a massacre or serial child molestation event that will be directly attributed to FB's super aggressive privacy invasion techniques. That's when the shit will hit the fan and the pullback will begin. Facebook can only survive the future if it's users remain exposed to predators (advertisers, marketers, etc). Without the ability to aggregate all your personal data, without cataloging every thing you "like", every survey you take, every game you play, every photo you post and every conversation you have, and then using that info to target adverting to you, they have no business model. If users don't put and end to it the Feds or a class action suit will. The stuff they are doing right now with your info is a 9.5 on the creepy scale. I'm continually surprised at how much info people post on their accounts and how sloppy they are in "friending" people. The wholes system is ripe for abuse.

I know I'm mostly alone on this one but I don't see the present social networking giants like FB as a model for the future. I think in twenty years we'll look back and shake our heads at how dumb the whole "share everything with the world model" was. What may replace it is mini networks that are very private, selective, issue or interest driven, and run mostly on altruism.

But for business people, big social network exposure makes total sense. For the layperson, that much exposure is not a good thing, not just from a personal safety issue, but from a mental health issue. I don't think we are wired to be be able to handle living like a celebrity, under constant scrutiny and judgement for peers and strangers, which is what most FB accounts are simulating. They're like gossip rags for the stars, except everyone's a star now and they are their own paparazi.

Last year I was ganged upon FB by a group of people I know socially. Just nasty hurtful comments out of the blue. Total gang bang situation. I handled it well because I have a really thick skin and I don't seek validation from others, but many teenagers would be crushed by the same thing. People will do vicious things to you online that they would never do in person and it's just getting worse. I've seen what my nephews have gone through with their FB drama and it's not healthy. In the old days a confrontation was over in done in a few minutes. Now it get's taken online where it lives on for weeks on FB as everyone ups the ante with each comment and action. We are not equipped to live like a fish in bowl with everyone staring and shouting at us.

[C0ldf1re]

... Someday soon there is going to be a massacre or serial child molestation event that will be directly attributed to FB's super aggressive privacy invasion techniques...

... If users don't put and end to it the Feds or a class action suit will...

Wouldn't it just be great for Google+ if FB was crippled by some kind of legal action? The sort of thing that a shyster lawyer could manage, and well within Google's budget. Naturally, there would be no traceable link between Google and the legal action. It is such an obvious tactic, that it is probably already being organized.

(If Google are reading this, and haven't started on this ploy yet, then they are welcome to PM me. My fees are modest, and satisfaction is guaranteed.)

[Tofayel]

I think social media will be next leader of world business. On Facebook, fan page, groups, etc. are very good option for making business. So it would be very difficult to bit Facebook in social media world.

[kgun]

I think if Google merged some of their other services like Gmail and Google Play into Google+ that might get more people using it personally.

Isn't it all merged if you use Google chrome on one or more computers?

To be impartial, the poll needs two more options: 3) don't know/can't say; 4) don't care.

Agree, so I did not vote.

[deepsand]

Google + will win, because SEO as it exists today will disappear and Google+ will be where people & businesses have to be to be seen on Google. SEO will be about Google +.

That's a mighty big claim, given that it inherently relies on the disappearance of objective search engines, for which there will always be a need.

[C0ldf1re]

That's a mighty big claim, given that it inherently relies on the disappearance of objective search engines, for which there will always be a need.

Exactly right! Yahoo used to be the King, until Yahoo was perceived as caring more about Yahoo revenue than serving the public. Then Google came along and gave a better and free service. We thought that Google were "the good guys"! (Yes, I was gullible too!)

Now that Google is revealed as arrogant and greedy, the Crown looks like passing to Micro$oft's Bing. (What? The Micro$oft evil empire becoming the new good guys? Do they think we are gullible?... Oh, yes... We've already proved that we are!)

[MilanMoves]

Mass friend adding software is used a lot for Twitter and Facebook. This makes advertisers on those sites less credible in my opinion. Google+ is definitely my priority, there is a lot to learn about it as well!