[dpeck]

I don't know how anyone could think of content on facebook as being indexable or searchable. Search is still aweful

[tumblen]

Search for users is bad, but the data is indexed and that index is being used and sold behind the scenes all the time.

[jat850]

I don't know anything about it, but how is it known that this is not the case with Snapchat as well? (I realize you're not the OP in this comment chain, but still.)

[strangecyan]

I assume it is the case with Snapchat, I don't think you can build a service at that scale without collecting some kind of data. The difference, I think is two-fold. We know that Facebook collects, analyses and keeps data and when you use Facebook it feels like it. The other difference is that Snapchat doesn't use that data to make a people or thing recommendation engine, which is what turns people off about Facebook.

[jat850]

Fair answer! I don't use either myself so your perspective on it sheds a lot of light. Thank you.

[lucasmullens]

It's more about that Facebook content is forever. Users know others can see their post years later, causing people to be less willing to use the network.