You didn't waste any time with this one. Good stuff Monica! I'm glad you mentioned the Google Reader competition because that was actually one of my first thoughts, and I had the same reaction to you in terms of why people weren't mentioning that. It's also a good play in terms of talent, though as a small aside I wonder how proven ex-Googler's will work for a young guy like Zuckerberg (likely a -very- minor issue.) My thing is I don't ever envision Facebook being my epicentre because really, I've even been reluctant accepting invites from my best “social media” friends. My drunken debauchery is my business. I'll stick to Twitter/Gmail/Linkedin for business.
I am very interested to see what they do with Facebook Inbox, now that they have the Gmail architects aboard. This could make for some interesting developments, especially with contextual advertising. I am already annoyed having so many social “inboxes”. If they made a product that eased this frustration, I would sign up for sure. Good post!
You last point (about email) is the most profound. Email is already changing, in terms of how people are using it. Perhaps three years from now the notion of email as we know it is transformed? Maybe worth its own post…
Ryan, I think we are two of a handful of people who might think of Google Reader since we're both so heavy into social media news.
I was like you with Facebook, but then at some point I had accepted enough “social media friends” that it didn't make sense anymore. Because I didn't really “know” those people any better than some of the random fans that friend me on Facebook.
And I got over people knowing I drink sometimes when I started going out with my Gen X boss and co-workers every Friday afternoon in the Loop (Chicago downtown).
I think it's good that people use social media differently. People have different preferences for communication. It provides competition and makes things more interesting.
Do you get a lot of email through Facebook? I've noticed it more and more – people would rather shoot me a Facebook message than shoot me an email. Even Facebook chat is starting to outrank Google chat with me.
I'm curious what the Google team will do at Facebook. I'd be surprised if Google wasn't a little uneasy right now, especially with the new release of Facebook search.
What do you envision? I love email the most for communications, but I could definitely see my inbox moving to Facebook. Facebook would have to move beyond just a messaging system though and also become a storage system, because I use my email to send myself important documents and reminders too.
It will be hard to change email habits, but I think Facebook is gearing up for something huge and I think Google (not Twitter) is the one with a target on its back.
What's interesting: Teens use Facebook as one of their primary communication systems. They obviously need an email to set it up, but what I hear from people who work with teens (14-17) is that if they want to reach them, they FB message them or text them. So, will the next group of college students rarely use email? Doubtful. Unless – as you suggest – FB changes things and allows more email-like features.
And, agreed on the friend piece…I'd use FB inbox more as email if it had more email features (attachments, etc.).
Agreed on the Google front…lots of posts today about Google's search functions related to FB's new reach.
So then, could FB be the hub of the social web and Google the hub of the information Web? 1.0 vs 2.0?
Wow. Great points Sam. Your last question is a really good one. I have trouble separating the social web from the information web because we share information via communication, not just search. It's a possibility though. I'm interested in how Google Wave will play into all of this.
Ryan, I think we are two of a handful of people who might think of Google Reader since we're both so heavy into social media news.
I was like you with Facebook, but then at some point I had accepted enough “social media friends” that it didn't make sense anymore. Because I didn't really “know” those people any better than some of the random fans that friend me on Facebook.
And I got over people knowing I drink sometimes when I started going out with my Gen X boss and co-workers every Friday afternoon in the Loop (Chicago downtown).
I think it's good that people use social media differently. People have different preferences for communication. It provides competition and makes things more interesting.
Do you get a lot of email through Facebook? I've noticed it more and more – people would rather shoot me a Facebook message than shoot me an email. Even Facebook chat is starting to outrank Google chat with me.
I'm curious what the Google team will do at Facebook. I'd be surprised if Google wasn't a little uneasy right now, especially with the new release of Facebook search.
What do you envision? I love email the most for communications, but I could definitely see my inbox moving to Facebook. Facebook would have to move beyond just a messaging system though and also become a storage system, because I use my email to send myself important documents and reminders too.
It will be hard to change email habits, but I think Facebook is gearing up for something huge and I think Google (not Twitter) is the one with a target on its back.
What's interesting: Teens use Facebook as one of their primary communication systems. They obviously need an email to set it up, but what I hear from people who work with teens (14-17) is that if they want to reach them, they FB message them or text them. So, will the next group of college students rarely use email? Doubtful. Unless – as you suggest – FB changes things and allows more email-like features.
And, agreed on the friend piece…I'd use FB inbox more as email if it had more email features (attachments, etc.).
Agreed on the Google front…lots of posts today about Google's search functions related to FB's new reach.
So then, could FB be the hub of the social web and Google the hub of the information Web? 1.0 vs 2.0?
Wow. Great points Sam. Your last question is a really good one. I have trouble separating the social web from the information web because we share information via communication, not just search. It's a possibility though. I'm interested in how Google Wave will play into all of this.
Monica O'Brien is the Director of Digital at Fizz and author of the book Social Pollination, which helps businesses leverage social media for crazy growth!
Monica O'Brien is the Director of Digital at Fizz and author of the book Social Pollination, which helps businesses leverage social media for crazy growth!
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
You didn't waste any time with this one. Good stuff Monica! I'm glad you mentioned the Google Reader competition because that was actually one of my first thoughts, and I had the same reaction to you in terms of why people weren't mentioning that. It's also a good play in terms of talent, though as a small aside I wonder how proven ex-Googler's will work for a young guy like Zuckerberg (likely a -very- minor issue.) My thing is I don't ever envision Facebook being my epicentre because really, I've even been reluctant accepting invites from my best “social media” friends. My drunken debauchery is my business. I'll stick to Twitter/Gmail/Linkedin for business.
R
OH! God! Hot good news;
Facebook status updates could get better now; at least friendfeed has done it.
I am very interested to see what they do with Facebook Inbox, now that they have the Gmail architects aboard. This could make for some interesting developments, especially with contextual advertising. I am already annoyed having so many social “inboxes”. If they made a product that eased this frustration, I would sign up for sure. Good post!
You last point (about email) is the most profound. Email is already changing, in terms of how people are using it. Perhaps three years from now the notion of email as we know it is transformed? Maybe worth its own post…
Ryan, I think we are two of a handful of people who might think of Google Reader since we're both so heavy into social media news.
I was like you with Facebook, but then at some point I had accepted enough “social media friends” that it didn't make sense anymore. Because I didn't really “know” those people any better than some of the random fans that friend me on Facebook.
And I got over people knowing I drink sometimes when I started going out with my Gen X boss and co-workers every Friday afternoon in the Loop (Chicago downtown).
I think it's good that people use social media differently. People have different preferences for communication. It provides competition and makes things more interesting.
Do you get a lot of email through Facebook? I've noticed it more and more – people would rather shoot me a Facebook message than shoot me an email. Even Facebook chat is starting to outrank Google chat with me.
I'm curious what the Google team will do at Facebook. I'd be surprised if Google wasn't a little uneasy right now, especially with the new release of Facebook search.
What do you envision? I love email the most for communications, but I could definitely see my inbox moving to Facebook. Facebook would have to move beyond just a messaging system though and also become a storage system, because I use my email to send myself important documents and reminders too.
It will be hard to change email habits, but I think Facebook is gearing up for something huge and I think Google (not Twitter) is the one with a target on its back.
What's interesting:
Teens use Facebook as one of their primary communication systems. They obviously need an email to set it up, but what I hear from people who work with teens (14-17) is that if they want to reach them, they FB message them or text them. So, will the next group of college students rarely use email? Doubtful. Unless – as you suggest – FB changes things and allows more email-like features.
And, agreed on the friend piece…I'd use FB inbox more as email if it had more email features (attachments, etc.).
Agreed on the Google front…lots of posts today about Google's search functions related to FB's new reach.
So then, could FB be the hub of the social web and Google the hub of the information Web? 1.0 vs 2.0?
Wow. Great points Sam. Your last question is a really good one. I have trouble separating the social web from the information web because we share information via communication, not just search. It's a possibility though. I'm interested in how Google Wave will play into all of this.
Ryan, I think we are two of a handful of people who might think of Google Reader since we're both so heavy into social media news.
I was like you with Facebook, but then at some point I had accepted enough “social media friends” that it didn't make sense anymore. Because I didn't really “know” those people any better than some of the random fans that friend me on Facebook.
And I got over people knowing I drink sometimes when I started going out with my Gen X boss and co-workers every Friday afternoon in the Loop (Chicago downtown).
I think it's good that people use social media differently. People have different preferences for communication. It provides competition and makes things more interesting.
Do you get a lot of email through Facebook? I've noticed it more and more – people would rather shoot me a Facebook message than shoot me an email. Even Facebook chat is starting to outrank Google chat with me.
I'm curious what the Google team will do at Facebook. I'd be surprised if Google wasn't a little uneasy right now, especially with the new release of Facebook search.
What do you envision? I love email the most for communications, but I could definitely see my inbox moving to Facebook. Facebook would have to move beyond just a messaging system though and also become a storage system, because I use my email to send myself important documents and reminders too.
It will be hard to change email habits, but I think Facebook is gearing up for something huge and I think Google (not Twitter) is the one with a target on its back.
What's interesting:
Teens use Facebook as one of their primary communication systems. They obviously need an email to set it up, but what I hear from people who work with teens (14-17) is that if they want to reach them, they FB message them or text them. So, will the next group of college students rarely use email? Doubtful. Unless – as you suggest – FB changes things and allows more email-like features.
And, agreed on the friend piece…I'd use FB inbox more as email if it had more email features (attachments, etc.).
Agreed on the Google front…lots of posts today about Google's search functions related to FB's new reach.
So then, could FB be the hub of the social web and Google the hub of the information Web? 1.0 vs 2.0?
Wow. Great points Sam. Your last question is a really good one. I have trouble separating the social web from the information web because we share information via communication, not just search. It's a possibility though. I'm interested in how Google Wave will play into all of this.