After spending the morning at f8, the Facebook developers conference, I’m convinced more than ever that Facebook is about to take over the whole Web. And by the whole Web, I mean, well, all of it.
And if Google isn’t trembling over this, they ought to be. We might look back at this day as the moment when Facebook set itself on a path to eventually dwarf Google in size, power, and eventually, revenues.
Simply put, Facebook is positioning itself to become deeply embedded in almost every single website. And the way it’s structuring this platform, it places Facebook itself at the center of Web more than ever.
Here’s why I think Facebook is about to become a monster.
First, there are the numbers, which are astonishing. Facebook has 400 million users, and that number is increasing at a faster pace than ever.
“If you’re building a website, there’s a good chance that most of your users are on Facebook,” said Zuckerberg. “And if they’re not, they will be soon.”
That might sound like a boast, were it not true. But what really left my jaw on the floor was what Facebook has coming next.
Facebook Connect, announced at the last f8, has been a killer for Facebook, making it the default sign in for millions of websites. Facebook is going to expand on that, creating a kind of super Facebook connect that makes sites more social for users without them actually even needing to sign in.
And by all appearances, these new platforms will be even easier for developers to implement. You can see the details here on the official Facebook blog.But what you’re going to start seeing all around the Web is the “Like” button you’re used to seeing on Facebook. When sites implement Facebook’s “open social graph API,” you will visit a site like CNN.com and see what all your friends “liked” there and you’ll be able to “like” an article as well — without even signing in.
See another example of what this will look like here.
At the same time, Facebook will make it easier for these other sites to access the data of users via the “open social graph API.” That means I’ll be able to go to CNN.com and see a stream of my friends’ activity there, again, without even logging on. It creates what Zuckerberg called an “instantly social” experience everywhere you go.
That “like” gets shared right back to Facebook, which is also creating a better way to search through all of this. And Facebook will now begin pulling in those likes from sites like Yelp, Pandora, and so on. The Web is about to get even more social, and Facebook is placing itself right at the center of this.
There will be some hurdles. I expect this to raise some privacy issues. And Facebook still has the challenge of doing a better job monetizing all of this.
But it’s clear to me that Facebook is on a path to making itself the most essential element of the Web. Sitting here, it’s hard to see how Google, or anyone else, slows down this march toward world wide Web domination.
27 comments
unaccountable
So Facebook will have a way of mining even more consumer data than before, something I prefer to try and keep as private as possible. What value does telling my friends about the things I like provide to me? Absolutely none, but it provides a wealth of information to company interested in selling me and my friends more and more unnecessary junk. It is disgusting to watch websites become more and more polluted with banners, ads, commercials, etc. I refuse to provide any assistance to a company who’s sole purpose has become the delivery of more personally tailored copy. Suck it Zucky.
Apr 21, 2010
Facebook Opens Up to the Web — Is That Good or Bad?
[...] Alley Insider called it a plan to “infiltrate the web,” and Silicon Beat said Facebook wants to “conquer the world.” Kevin Marks of BT, a former engineer with Technorati, said that [...]
Apr 21, 2010
Facebook Opens Up to the Web — Is That Good or Bad? | Gadget Public Informations
[...] Alley Insider called it a plan to “infiltrate the web,” and Silicon Beat said Facebook wants to “conquer the world.” Kevin Marks of BT, a former engineer with Technorati, said that [...]
Apr 21, 2010
too short
Yeah, but facebook sucks and plenty of people hate it.
Apr 21, 2010
Top News Stories
I beg to disagree that facebook sucks!actually its cool!i love it ’cause i can see all the activities of my long time friends that i cant visit nowadays..i can easily connect with them anytime i want.Facebook is so much effective/helpful for those people whose friends and families are not with them.And facebook has a lot to offer….keep it up!=)
Apr 21, 2010
Madeline B
Hey, that’s a very nice assortment. Are you able to embrace my web site in it (pr2) and commentluv is enabled.
Nov 5, 2012
Chinafashionblog
It will be interesting to see how Facebook will spread its reach on the web.
Although as far as I know, FB still hasn’t really figured out how to put this wealth of information to good use and create a succesful business model
Apr 21, 2010
CurtisNeeley
Gougul will be hurting very soon and Facebook may well overcome the “monetization” issue but that is unlikely.
Apr 22, 2010
Albert
Where is the Like button here?
Apr 22, 2010
Some Good Facebook Reads « Reinventing the Newsroom
[...] Chris O’Brien of the San Jose Mercury News has an overall take that’s a great place to start. [...]
Apr 22, 2010
Facebook Tries to Facebook-ize the Web (Plus: Technologizer Gets a Like Button)
[...] How Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook Plan to Conquer the Rest of the World [...]
Apr 22, 2010
Facebook Opens Up to the Web — Is That Good or Bad? - A Collection of Latest Happening in Technology Field
[...] Alley Insider called it a plan to “infiltrate the web,” and Silicon Beat said Facebook wants to “conquer the world.” Kevin Marks of BT, a former engineer with Technorati, said that [...]
Apr 22, 2010
daniel
Thanks for your comment Prajith. Keep Visiting and Subscribe North American country. Thanks.
Nov 5, 2012
Facebook -> Internet: “Om nom nom” « laurenoutloud.com
[...] Basically, Facebook is taking over the internet. No seriously. [...]
Apr 22, 2010
Matthew Allen » Blog Archive » Google vs Facebook vs the Internet - Researcher, Educator and Net Critic
[...] scurry out into that jungle, but otherwise would remain safely inside the habitat of Facebook. As Siliconbeat reports, Google should be worried about this new wave of Facebook’s expansion of the way it [...]
May 2, 2010
Dan at LAX Parking
With the wealth of consumer data they’ll be harvesting, FB can easily eclipse Google search if they want to. I think they’ve already started monetizing with the FB ad placements, which are far more targeted and demographic-specific than Google can ever hope to be.
Dan F.
May 3, 2010
Ivan_PSP
Google needs to do a hostile take over with Facebook fast.
May 11, 2010
INFO Kappa » Esentialul despre cautarea pe Internet IK 400
[...] Facebook isi intinde tentacolele peste tot in Web: http://www.ecommercetimes.com/ http://www.siliconbeat.com/ [...]
Aug 23, 2010
Jeff and Jeremy » Facebook will take over the world… Not Google!
[...] to Lisa for sending this great article to us. This came after we asked what entity was more likely to take over the world. 71% of you said that [...]
Oct 13, 2010
Facebook Is Set To Take Over The World
[...] from Silicon Beat: After spending the morning at f8, the Facebook developers conference, I’m convinced more than [...]
Nov 4, 2010
Ian at LA Headshots
Zuckerberg seriously wields too much power, it’s frightening…
Mar 13, 2011
ray
so who cares if he worth millions i dont care i dont like face book and i dont like the sucker zuckerberg
Jun 13, 2011
bill
one thing is ive heard hundreds of complaints of zuckerberg accpeting people as facebook freinds then ignoring them and not answereing them you dont do this to customers i hope another better social site comes about and runs this clutz out of town i too will not use face book
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Mar 7, 2012
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It appears the world is too dumb to see the chief benefit is to believe they have more friends bullshit. m peeved that ad blocker wont stop it loading on every website MATE PLEASE PISS IT OFF.
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