Facebook loses users for the first time • Hacker News Board

Re: Facebook loses users for the first time

#61

Post by ProAm » Thu, Feb 03, 2022, 1:38 AM UTC

1270018080 wrote: post #38

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.

Your first sentences and last sentences contradict each other in my mind. They're selling nonense. I don't know why they're pushing the metaverse so hard in media. It feels as astroturfed as crypto is. I'm not putting on a VR headset to go to a meeting, I would literally never want that.

That is why I related it to people selling real estate on the Moon when moon landings were yet feasible. They are clearing trying to associate the brand Metaverse with Facebook right now, and hoping they can fill in the backend when they (possibly) have the capability to. They are trying to steal brand recognition for vaporware right now. Playing the long game.

Re: Facebook loses users for the first time

#62

Post by parsd » Thu, Feb 03, 2022, 1:38 AM UTC

I am thankful to these evil companies. Thanks to them - I spend less time online, try to read more books, appreciate real-life conversations, rely on locals for information and news, and let my mind wander.

Re: Facebook loses users for the first time

#63

Post by rudyfink » Thu, Feb 03, 2022, 1:38 AM UTC

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.

Yes, it feels like a return to the walled-garden days of America Online, Prodigy, CompuServe, etc. Essentially, they seem to be want to create a separate network that they control--one that is not "internet-ed" to other networks in an open fashion.

Re: Facebook loses users for the first time

#64

Post by bpodgursky » Thu, Feb 03, 2022, 1:39 AM UTC

annadane wrote: post #46

Literally all Zuckerberg has to do is not be the kind of person he is... his product itself did achieve success in that a huge number of people are using it, but then he had to prove himself to have no ethical standards

Literally all Zuckerberg has to do is be the same person who made him worth $80 billion.

Re: Facebook loses users for the first time

#65

Post by Wowfunhappy » Thu, Feb 03, 2022, 1:40 AM UTC

mythrwy wrote: post #43

When Facebook first started getting users I tried to access it from a script using Lynx. I don't remember why but it was nothing nefarious, I think I simply wanted to download something for GF periodically. I got a message that said "We aren't cool enough to support your browser". Something about the sarcastic snootiness of the message really angered me and prevented me from ever opening a Facebook account. Later I b…

> I got a message that said "We aren't cool enough to support your browser". Something about the sarcastic snootiness of the message really angered me and prevented me from ever opening a Facebook account.

Really? I think Facebook's message is kind of nice compared to the standard "Please use a different browser". Whereas the common message implies that you are the problem for using an unusual browser, Facebook's message acknowledges that they are the problem for being less cool than you.

Re: Facebook loses users for the first time

#66

Post by kumarvvr » Thu, Feb 03, 2022, 1:40 AM UTC

GCA10 wrote: post #58

Peak coffee consumption (per capita/US): 1946 Peak cigarette consumption (per capita/US): 1963 Peak oil production (global): unknown, maybe 2020-2030 Peak Facebook: ?? That's an incomplete peer group, but I find it interesting that at some point, society does start to unplug from addictive substances. The tapering off is quite slow, though. Unclear whether heavy users cut back, or new generations just don't develop t…

I think it has more to do with alternatives (except perhaps in case of cigarettes which have direct measurable health effects) availability rather than society starting to unplug from addictive substances.

Peak coffee is in 1946, but what have consumers moved onto from then? Alcohol, Tea, Energy drinks, Soft Drinks ?

Re: Facebook loses users for the first time

#67

Post by jppope » Thu, Feb 03, 2022, 1:41 AM UTC

I think this has been pretty obvious for a while... MAU doesn't tell the real story and I think we all have anecdotal evidence that the engagement and demographics changed substantially over the last 5 years.

Re: Facebook loses users for the first time

#68

Post by chrisseaton » Thu, Feb 03, 2022, 1:41 AM UTC

GCA10 wrote: post #58

Peak coffee consumption (per capita/US): 1946 Peak cigarette consumption (per capita/US): 1963 Peak oil production (global): unknown, maybe 2020-2030 Peak Facebook: ?? That's an incomplete peer group, but I find it interesting that at some point, society does start to unplug from addictive substances. The tapering off is quite slow, though. Unclear whether heavy users cut back, or new generations just don't develop t…

Wow I had no idea Americans used to drink more coffee than now. Surely serving sizes have grown and grown - absolutely nobody was having a 20-ounce coffee in 1946, but now that's normal. Doesn't seem to add up but I'm sure you're right.

Re: Facebook loses users for the first time

#69

Post by leonidasv » Thu, Feb 03, 2022, 1:41 AM UTC

zwieback wrote: post #32

systemvoltage wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is just me or there seems to be a strange lack of criticism about TikTok on the same or stricter level than FB. Especially that it is a Chinese company HQ’ed in Beijing. Neither do I ever see discussion about the asymmetry in China’s trade policies with regards to FB/Tiktok. Tiktok enjoys free market access (except India), whereas FB is banned in China just like many other US-based platforms. On the contrary, ther…

I think it's because of the perception TikTok=cat and dance videos, FB=misinformation. At least that's what my feeds looks like. Also: TikTok=kids, FB=adults

At least in my bubble, TikTok has plenty of misinformation too, and to me it's as bad as Facebook when it comes to dissemination.

Re: Facebook loses users for the first time

#70

Post by rowanajmarshall » Thu, Feb 03, 2022, 1:42 AM UTC

GCA10 wrote: post #58

Peak coffee consumption (per capita/US): 1946 Peak cigarette consumption (per capita/US): 1963 Peak oil production (global): unknown, maybe 2020-2030 Peak Facebook: ?? That's an incomplete peer group, but I find it interesting that at some point, society does start to unplug from addictive substances. The tapering off is quite slow, though. Unclear whether heavy users cut back, or new generations just don't develop t…

The difference is, the US population kept growing, so while per capita figures falling is noticeable, total coffee/cigarette consumption may not have fallen.

Facebook's numbers are falling despite a growth in world population, and I'd bet a larger growth in the internet-connected population. That's worse, especially for a platform heavily reliant on network effects.