Is Facebook today what Google was?

Facebook is becoming one of the most talked-about social networks and web phenomena of the year. The reason for this is probably because it has developed into a fiercely popular and powerful networking channel that has grown and continues to grow largely through word-of-mouth.

But it's also because Facebook is a technically robust, highly flexible, integrated platform that offers relevant content in a very usable manner. And if we think carefully, we realise that Google succeeded for very similar reasons. Aside from Google's “PageRank” algorithm, I believe that Google succeeded because of the quality of its complete integrated product offering and the ease of use for users.

Human dynamics

But there's one thing that Facebook has that Google doesn't: the human dynamics that connects us all.

I've been doing some reading today and came across Facebook valuations of $10 billion and rumours that Mark Zuckerberg could sell to Microsoft for US$6 billion. But let's not forget that last year Mark refused to sell to Yahoo for a reported US$1 billion, which in itself was a nifty bunch of money. Would he sell this time round?

I find it a bit hard to believe, especially since Facebook's move in May 2007 now gives developers across the globe access to Facebook's technology platform. This not only makes Facebook a valuable social networking and content sharing site with user benefits but a fiercely powerful and financially rewarding technology hub for application developers.

Open to debate

Whether Zuckerberg will or should sell is a topic open to debate. But if we again use Google as a comparison, we realise that Zuckerberg could just be another Sergey and Larry: people with a vision to build the best and who will not compromise same for the sake of making immediate financial returns. Having said this though, I have to agree with some previous comments that he'd be darn stupid not to accept another US$billion dollar offer!

With 30 million active members on the site, well over 141 thousand members in the South Africa network, and the Web being a living platform that's really about people, networking and self-expression enveloped in new generation technologies and interfaces, how will the Facebook story play out?

Let's do Biz