[sep_field]

They'll be able to find value in nonmonopolized and nonalgorithmic versions of the services that Facebook has gobbled up, just like they did before Facebook existed.

I'm not making that call, I'm making a prediction and hoping it comes true, and contributing to a discussion that may possibly, in some small way, contribute to it coming true. If you look around this thread, you'll notice some other people that seem to be aligned to this. I'm not the first to point these things out, and I won't be the last. As a former Facebook employee, I have a responsibility to speak up.

[jryle70]

Incredibly narrow minded. FB page is a godsend for a lot of small businesses, especially during the pandemic.

A friend of mine's 85 year old mom post her activities daily on FB. Great joy and peace of mind for my friend, as they live ocean apart. The old lady wouldn't gonna stop using FB, or wait for a different platform that suits your world view.

By all means, work on a better solution, don't just speak up if you feel strongly about it. My apologies if I don't take it very well idealistic view that disregards other people's way of life.

[nitrogen]

People did all of the things they now do on Facebook before, using email, phone calls, SMS, Flickr, slide film, photo albums, phone books...

Facebook can't claim credit for natural human activity just because Facebook's network effects give most people no choice in what digital city to live.

[bko]

When you use the word valid, you're making a judgement call. You have no right to decide what's valid or not.

On the broader point, you're making a strong assertion. Facebook is probably the most popular consumer product in the history of the world (apart from maybe Coke). You brush off what they do as just providing services that others had provided before Facebook "gobbled" them up, or providing some services that no one really needs or can be trivially replicated.

It's a big claim and there's a huge payoff if you're right. There are thousands of companies trying to pick away at facebooks services, but despite that Facebook usage and engagement grows every quarter.

You can speak up and make your prediction and hope it comes true. But it looks like wishful thinking at this point and it's underlying premise is wrong IMO. Trying to challenge Facebook or encourage others to do so with that framework won't work.

[legostormtroopr]

> despite that Facebook usage and engagement grows every quarter

How much of that growth is through aquisition though? Facebook was losing photo sharing, so they bought instagram, they were losing messaging, so they bought WhatsApp.

Its all well and good to say Facebook has value, and thats because they are using a behemoth (almost, but not quite monopolistic) position to squeeze competitors.

Take Facebook Marketplace, it has a huge number of posts that probably equals Craiglists - and they did that because they already captured peoples attentions. And they'll do it with their next product - hell they are still pushing their Portal picture frame on people.

[WanderPanda]

Doesn't this get boring at some point? By now everyone should be aware of the implications of using Facebook/Instagram/WhatsApp and they still use it. Must it be the pure evilness of Facebook which manipulates the whole world or might it be possible that they are actually providing value to people?