[ernestipark]

I think we have to adjust our understanding of what 'using' Facebook means.

Despite its flaws FB has done a good job of layering useful products on top of the social network despite the original purpose of Facebook seemingly losing popularity. In my circles, the typical news feed and posting updates part of Facebook is pretty much dead, and I never use those features personally anymore. BUT Marketplace, Messenger, and niche groups are all very valuable. It's changed from 'something cool' to a utility.

Also, given these DAUs are measured in billions and there are users all over the globe, chances are usage in different parts of the world and for different ages and demographics looks incredibly different.

[dont__panic]

Interesting point. I also found this passage intriguing:

  The problem with this line of reasoning is that Meta’s
  capital expenditures are directly focused on both of
  the two main reasons for alarm: TikTok and ATT. That
  is because the answer to both challenges is more AI,
  and building up AI capacity requires a lot of capital
  investment.

This makes it clear that Facebook/Meta's overlords don't think of these products as a social network; instead, they think of them as a conduit to show people ads. Ads recommended by AI.

With growing concern over censorship, political manipulation, and platform moderation, I wonder how long the "AI-recommended ad" cash cow can continue. You can only show people so many political and gambling app ads before they stop using your product or run out of time/money.

[nr2x]

And yet viagra spam still exists. If the distribution cost approaches zero you can still find that 0.00000001% of hopeless idiots.