Facebook loses users for the first time • Hacker News Board

Re: Facebook loses users for the first time

#251

Post by alisonatwork » Thu, Feb 03, 2022, 3:26 AM UTC

Nbox9 wrote: post #229

monkeybutton wrote: post #2

Its already frustrating enough having to use Facebook just to look up a restaurant's information, the set times for a concert, or whatever about a local business or event. If all that stuff starts to disappear behind a meta-verse wall, I might just leap off the nearest bridge instead.

If you call a local business you can usually get that sort of information without logging into facebook.

Some local businesses only provide their "number" as a WhatsApp contact, so you're kinda stuck on a Facebook-owned platform anyway.

Re: Facebook loses users for the first time

#252

Post by Calist0 » Thu, Feb 03, 2022, 3:26 AM UTC

SrslyJosh wrote: post #27

ProAm wrote: post #10

When the metaverse actually launches they will skyrocket. They were smart to pivot early. Saying the 'metaverse' is on FB right now is similar to people selling acres on the Moon before anyone landed. FB is planting an imaginary flag on the 'metaverse' hoping they can technically catch up to their claims and capitalize on it.

> When the metaverse actually launches I think you need to define "metaverse". What is it, besides an ugly, much less functional Second Life? Who's launching it? What is it good for? Why would someone use it over...well, you have to define what it's good for before I can even ask that question.

What is it good for?

- Work meetings

- Socializing

- Dating

- Creative endeavors

- Improved workspace

You'll be able to have work meetings at a virtual office. You can do that now, but the experience will be better. You'll be able to socialize with friends across the world, meet up at virtual replicated areas (like a rooftop bar in NYC..) and meet other people while you're there. You'll be able to go on virtual dates with a long-distance partner. You'll be able to put on your lightweight VR headset and be stationed at a better workstation, with larger monitors where you can manipulate the interface with movements of your hands without the cost of buying such a work set-up in real life. You'll be able to sit on your couch, put on your VR headset and watch movies on a 100 inch TV screen without having to furnish your home with a TV.

The possibilities are endless. Where's your imagination?

Re: Facebook loses users for the first time

#253

Post by Pasorrijer » Thu, Feb 03, 2022, 3:26 AM UTC

irrational wrote: post #248

monkeybutton wrote: post #2

Its already frustrating enough having to use Facebook just to look up a restaurant's information, the set times for a concert, or whatever about a local business or event. If all that stuff starts to disappear behind a meta-verse wall, I might just leap off the nearest bridge instead.

I have never used Facebook and I’ve never had trouble finding that kind of information on non-Facebook sites. Are you just used to looking on Facebook first?

There are many businesses (Restaurants, doggy daycare) that no longer have websites but have transitioned solely to a Facebook page for cost and technical ease of maintenance reasons.

Re: Facebook loses users for the first time

#254

Post by sjg007 » Thu, Feb 03, 2022, 3:26 AM UTC

nyxtom wrote: post #222

I used facebook for a brief period only because I was trying to sell some stuff on the marketplace. That being said marketplace is a crapshoot most of the time it seems so it ended up not working out. Every time I visited that cesspool of a website I regretted it immediately. Had to add a stylus script to disable loads of unwanted content

I'm not sure craiglist is better... I think for the general folk that FB is quite a bit better.

Re: Facebook loses users for the first time

#255

Post by School-Cotton » Thu, Feb 03, 2022, 3:26 AM UTC

Calist0 wrote: post #231

notyourwork wrote: post #206

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does anyone else find this on the level of batshit crazy insane? Meta, are we really going to divest so far from the physical world that the a virtual reality is worth that much? I mean VR is realistically a video game. I just don't see it but I do see desperation from FB.

I think this pandemic has proved how sane the idea of a Metaverse would be. Imagine meeting someone online, dating or friendship, you put on a lightweight VR headset and get transported to a replicated NYC rooftop bar, where loads of people from around the world are sitting, drinking and chatting. Socializing with a date or a group of people at the comfort of your home, going on outings, inviting your friends to your…

I guess it's just a matter of personal preference, because I can't relate at all. That would have sounded awful to me before the pandemic, and the experience of virtual everything during the pandemic only makes it sound even more awful.

> People will be able to form romantic relationships and stronger friendships from across the world.

Romantic relationships without physical proximity sounds totally dystopian to me.

Re: Facebook loses users for the first time

#256

Post by hokumguru » Thu, Feb 03, 2022, 3:26 AM UTC

vorpalhex wrote: post #223

dustintrex wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Facebook has been primarily displaced by Tiktok, which is considerably more addictive than FB. It's like zonking out in front of cable TV in the olden days, if the cable TV had access to an essentially unlimited content library of short-form dopamine hits, was capable of determining exactly what you like, and showing you exactly that forever.

TikTok, for it's many faults, is at least not ragebait farming. It is distracting junk. Facebook feels more malicious in my mind.

Except TikTok’s also is controlled or controllable by a foreign government whereas we know all Facebook is after is more profit. One of these seems more malicious and abusable than the other.

Re: Facebook loses users for the first time

#257

Post by frob » Thu, Feb 03, 2022, 3:26 AM UTC

dathinab wrote: post #232

I think they lost users much much earlier. It's just that most users they lost went from "I use Facebook" to "I don't want to use Facebook, but kinds still have to" (because friends, family etc.). All people below 40y I know which have Facebook fall more or less in the second category...

I fall into a 3rd category: I used to log into FB once a month or so to check in. For some reason, they decided I was a fake account (despite working for them for 4.5 years) and asked for my ID. The resolution on my 10-year-old MBP was too low for FB's contractors so they rejected my ID 3 times and I seem to now be locked out of my account indefinitely.

Definitely in the top 10 best thing to ever happen to me.

Re: Facebook loses users for the first time

#258

Post by irrational » Thu, Feb 03, 2022, 3:26 AM UTC

shaunpud wrote: post #11

monkeybutton wrote: post #2

Its already frustrating enough having to use Facebook just to look up a restaurant's information, the set times for a concert, or whatever about a local business or event. If all that stuff starts to disappear behind a meta-verse wall, I might just leap off the nearest bridge instead.

It really gets me down when local/state emergency services etc. use it as their primary means of news/updates.

Where I live they use nextdoor for that purpose. I’m not sure which is worse.

Re: Facebook loses users for the first time

#259

Post by irrational » Thu, Feb 03, 2022, 3:28 AM UTC

alisonatwork wrote: post #251

Nbox9 wrote: post #229

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you call a local business you can usually get that sort of information without logging into facebook.

Some local businesses only provide their "number" as a WhatsApp contact, so you're kinda stuck on a Facebook-owned platform anyway.

Can you give an example? I just go to google maps or Apple Maps and type in any business and have all the information I have ever needed.

Re: Facebook loses users for the first time

#260

Post by jader201 » Thu, Feb 03, 2022, 3:28 AM UTC

makeworld wrote: post #204

elwell wrote: post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Facebook is for old people. Instagram is for moderately old people. Snapchat is for moderately young people. TikTok is for young people.

Everyone uses Instagram, teens most of all.

Most of the “not so young” people I know do not even have an Instagram account. Of my two teens, only one of them uses it (the other has zero interest).

I’m trying to do my part in keeping my teens off social media. I’m about 50% successful.