Next Facebook Killer

What could it be? any ideas?

This is the technology industry which means that you can't stand around for a long period of time without expecting or preparing for another entry. There are other startups coming in the scene addressing this issue of "privacy" and "open source" etc... With time Google and Microsoft will follow as well as VCs looking for potential candidates... MySpace could have re-designed their interface and added relevant features to stay competitive rather than switching their focus which was their main down turn. Ex. Microsoft buys yahoo to compete with google... no success.. Microsoft creates bing (sort of like a copy of google) and takes a good share of the market.

Facebook "basically" gave users what myspace and friendster had + some more in a very nice and easy to use format (even though both companies had largely taken over the market based on our expectations at the time - p.s. expectations change). Is that what a startup can do in this area to potentially "viral" and gain AT THE LEAST 100,000 members? Ex. StudioVZ, Chinese facebook copy etc...

Expectations of a market take over can now be defined as 500 mill members and in 2004 and on myspace was considered at the top of its game etc... you guys probably see what im getting at. But 2004 and now is a huge difference with access to computers, technology and cell phones being extremely convenient so is 500 mill a REALLY BIG NUMBER or Can it get even BIGGER in the future?

I think that, the "Facebook Killer" will be something entirely different to what Facebook is today. The reason is based on a few things but look at all these "Google Killers" - Mahalo, Cuil, Blekko, DuckDuckGo etc with the exception of Bing none are really seen as a threat to Google. Cuil has deadpooled, Mahalo has changed business model and we're only really seeing what Blekko can do which goes to prove the idea, that for something to beat Google/Facebook its going to have to be something new. Such as the evolution, of Facebook becoming a threat to Google so much so they are focusing more on social aspects with +1 etc.

However, going back to your question and looking at it with regards to "open source" issue you raised, its important to note that at Facebook they are very open to the idea of opensource having, released many things into the open source community themselves - http://developers.facebook.com/opensource/ and Facebook even provide a public mirror - http://mirror.facebook.net/ of many open source services. This shows that, an "open source" service won't kill Facebook - look at Dispora (the "open source" Facebook) that hasn't worked which goes to show that, if something is going to "kill Facebook" then it won't look like Facebook.

For instance, Facebook doesn't look like Google but as I highlighted earlier Google are noting Facebook is becoming someone considered a competitor - especially if they move into search - which is why they are focusing on +1 etc.

Additionally, there's actually an interesting article about the Facebook Killer not looking like Facebook posted by Mashable's Pete Cashmore on CNN here: http://articles.cnn.com/2010-11-26/tech/cashmore.facebook.ki... which is also worth a read.

I imagine that it won't be an all inclusive social networking site- it will instead, be a collection of sites that focus on single features (work, education, social groups, hobbies and so on). People are going to just grow out of this everything model- especially those that have been using it since high school (even grade school). There is something to be said about staying in touch with people from your past, but realistically how much does one have in common with an acquaintance from 15 years ago? I would venture to say that even the most active facebook users reduce their usage within the first few months and this trend continues as one transitions out of being a student.

Thanks for your trust on India...your prediction might come true...