Facebook ends platform policy banning apps that copy its features
1–10 of 114 posts
Re: Facebook ends platform policy banning apps that copy its features
#2This is awesome. Maybe then we can finally have a separate group / events app without getting the crappy Facebook feed and notifications. I think most people use facebook either for messenger, or for the group and event features.
Re: Facebook ends platform policy banning apps that copy its features
#3> The move will significantly reduce the risk of building on the Facebook platform.
What's to stop them from reversing the policy change? Once bitten, twice shy.
Re: Facebook ends platform policy banning apps that copy its features
#4Alas, they can still add and remove such a policy, or tuned variants thereof, at their own discretion at any time. And have done so in the past. And would be keenly motivated to do so in the future.
So them not-having-the-policy on a particular day N isn't really much comfort for those who'd like to build functionality for day N+1, when Facebook may have rewritten the rules to its own advantage again.
Will they contractually commit to a policy for a specified period of time?
Re: Facebook ends platform policy banning apps that copy its features
#5So Facebook realizes that it’s namesake website isn’t producing as much value as it used to, and that by enabling users to customize their experience they retain control of the data. But how can they monetize the third party apps? Acquisitions? Betting most users will continue using the core website?
Re: Facebook ends platform policy banning apps that copy its features
#6This is awesome. Maybe then we can finally have a separate group / events app without getting the crappy Facebook feed and notifications. I think most people use facebook either for messenger, or for the group and event features.
Funny, I use Facebook for the exact inverse of this. I actively avoid messenger, group, and event features. I use it to keep in touch with family and share family photos.
Re: Facebook ends platform policy banning apps that copy its features
#7Good idea, they'll get even more data on emerging competitors than they used to get from their traffic-sniffing VPN app before Apple pulled it from the App Store a few months ago: https://techcrunch.com/2018/02/12/facebook-starts-pushing-it...
Re: Facebook ends platform policy banning apps that copy its features
#8Of course Facebook would made this change now. They have the freedom to do this now. They have effectively won social at this point. They control 3 of the biggest mobile social apps in the world: Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook itself. No startup really poses a realistic threat to them anymore. This policy change is just FB saving face in the eyes of regulators (and developers like here on HN).
Re: Facebook ends platform policy banning apps that copy its features
#9Of course Facebook would made this change now. They have the freedom to do this now. They have effectively won social at this point. They control 3 of the biggest mobile social apps in the world: Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook itself. No startup really poses a realistic threat to them anymore. This policy change is just FB saving face in the eyes of regulators (and developers like here on HN).
I think you're getting ahead of yourself. TikTok stands a real chance to dethrone them over the next X years.
Re: Facebook ends platform policy banning apps that copy its features
#10"We've run out of ideas for how to improve Facebook. Maybe we should let developers come up with some ideas again so we can copy them."