Is Facebook failing?

The Death of Facebook

So for the last few months Facebook has spent more and more time in the news and been the subject of great speculation. People have recently been given insight into the rarely discussed world of Facebook internal financing following Goldman Sachs interest in investing in the company. It is now widely known that because it may breach the limit of more than 500 investors in it's non-publicly traded stock, it may now be forced to disclose it's finances or go public with an IPO which seems unlikely at this point. The deadline for at least the disclosure is set for April of 2011.

This all comes after Goldman Sachs just valued the company at $50 Billion to entice investors to shell out a whopping 2 million minimum investment each to get their piece of the action. Last year (2010), Facebook grossed roughly $2 billion by most estimates which means that it's currently valued by Goldman Sachs at 25 times it's gross yearly income. To give you an example of a successful public companies valuation numbers, Google trades at approx. 7 times it's value. This means that Google's stock would be worth considerably more than one who was traded at 25 times it's value (the income/value ratio is higher). Now it's not cut and dry by any means but the basic point is that Facebook at some point will have to prove how and why it's worth that much. In my humble opinion though, i don't think they actually are worth that much, yet.

Facebook is relying on the idea that it is so well integrated with everything on the web that it's growth must continue and people will always log onto facebook as much as they do now. Unfortunately, there is an underlying issue that could very well derail everything they are trying to do. That issue is that facebook is no longer what it used to be. The very core of the reasoning behind why people liked facebook and were so enthralled by it are being eroded and tainted by facebook itself, or at least what it has turned into behind the scenes. What do I mean by this? Let me answer that candidly.

What initially drew many people to facebook was the open information sharing amongst friends, peers, students, and scenes. It was a venue free of the myspace drama and over-flashyness that was getting old quick! But, like myspace it was still centered around what you wanted to say. You could speak honestly, post things you liked, share pictures, flirt, and be free to socially network with people. At it's core it was about expressing one's self how they wanted to be expressed and learning how others wanted to express themselves. All while browsing a non-cluttered, non-overloaded, easy to update, clean and simple environment. Ahh the good old days!

Then came the games, followed shortly by the ads, which in turn generated money, which brought attention, which was then exploited for more money and so the cycle began. All the attention and money led to facebook being a lucrative environment for profit so it embraced the role and began it's journey to the mainstream. More and more people were joining, friend lists started growing, news feeds got longer, next thing you know you were helping people tend virtual crops for meaningless harvests and then it happened. Your mom joined Facebook, then your boss friended you, then they created privacy settings so you could try to hind the things say and post from certain people. It was all over at that very moment. Facebook lost it's freedom, it's charm, and it's uninhibited core draw. Now instead of freely expressing who we are, we untag ourselves from compromising photos, we unfriend and re-friend people during arguments, we set our privacy settings carefully in case we make a mistake and post something too true or offensive to one person or another. We carefully select what we allow the general public to see and very often limit it to nothing but a profile picture. We're guarded in what we say and how we say it at times because people could use it against us for malice or profit, take it the wrong way, or get all hypersensitive and start a "did you hear what they did on facebook?!" conversation around the water cooler at the office on monday morning. I know i've persoanlly gotten more and more frustrated with Facebook and it's constant changes and features that's i've got to keep up on, or should I say keep an eye on.

Worst of all though, in my opinion, is the continuing and worsening exploitation of our personal information by this company. Facebooks' business model is based on advertising the right product to the right person or making that information available to those who wish to do so. Stop and ask yourself, how do they do that? Facebook analytic software uses almost every aspect of the information you enter into your facebook profile as well as the information you share with other facebook users or applications. This means that literally everything you do now is scrutinized to figure out how to make you, and people similar to you, purchase or view a particular product or service with less effort and expense or find out exactly what product you want to buy so they can advertise it to you. Now if that isn't scary enough in an orwellian sense, think about the 3rd party developers that also have access to the facebook platform, and subsequently a significant chunk of your data.

Recently it has been shown that companies like zynga and other popular facebook app developers have been selling the data returned from your profile by their apps for very tidy fees. Who are the buyers? Well, your guess is as good as mine but the numbers involved generally indicate there are lots and lots of people buying! Now, not only do you have to worry what you say, do, or how you look but also your basic personal information is now being spread around and treated as a commodity. Oh, and there's nothing you can do about it! There isn't much you can do about facebook itself mining and selling your information but I suppose you could uninstall all facebook apps that transmit your data to 3rd parties to mitigate the extent of your info from going to these unintended parties. But, how do you know which apps are which? Long story short as it is now, you don't! Financially speaking for facebook, it benefits them to keep it that way! Otherwise, you wouldn't install those apps that funnel out your data would you? No information being sold means no ad revenue and consequently their $50 billion dollar valuation from Goldman Sachs goes out the window. Speaking of Goldman Sachs, the firm has passed on facebook previously but now seems eager to invest despite the sites user numbers hitting a plateau this past year of 500,000,000 and not moving significantly above that.

Ok, so what does it all mean? It means that the facebook you log onto every day today is not the facebook that you became enamored with and addicted too. It may look the same on the surface (despite the seemingly daily layout changes) but underneath it's a whole new beast. It's not about us anymore it's about them now. It's the same thing that happened to myspace and people are beginning to see it. I personally have noticed that facebook is fading in popularity and people are starting to get more annoyed by it then inspired by it. It's not a place to really be yourself anymore. It's not really about a list of your good friends anymore, it's become a rap sheet of acquaintances that you have to keep up with. For businesses it's not a fun thing to do with their customers anymore, now it's a financially half-worthy necessity. Facebook has become the next fail whale (still remember that term? lol) and I for one do not believe it's $50 billion dollar public valuation one bit.

Seriously, now that everyone has facebook including your grandma who's left to sign up? how do you continue exponential growth when there are only so many people? To me it just doesn't add up! Facebook will stay a powerhouse on the internet for a while still because it is far too profitable for certain people to let it die, but mark my words. Some young start-up social network with it's priorities permanently geared towards the users will one day soon woo the crowds over and facebook will be left trying to do endless upgrades to it's facade in a vein attempt to stay relevant and get a piece of your data. Meanwhile, some clever open source developers will be welcoming people to a new, free, safe and actually secure social network where YOU choose what you want it to do for you and your friends. Til then, the habit of facebook will die hard but the flame of love for the once exciting and stimulating social network has drawn down to a dim flicker. Can Zuckerburg keep it lit after the Goldman Sachs hurricane passes by? We'll see!

Continuing in the Face of Failure

   I'll be the first to admit that I've failed many times so far in my life. I've failed to maintained relationships I cared about, unnecessarily failed classes in school, failed to think about my actions effecting those around me, failed at starting certain businesses for a plethora of reasons, failed to achieve many of my childhood goals, failed to be the good person my family knew I could be for a long time, failed to ever get on the good side of “luck”, and so far I've failed to find what people describe as true love. Fortunately, as sad and depressing as that all sounds, even with all these failures piled up from the past all it takes is one characteristic to outweigh and surpass them all.... Perseverance.

   I think we'd all like to be able to go back and do things over from time to time but we also know thats just not possible (outside of dreams). We all have to live with the saddled failures, losses, and regrets from the past. Unfortunately, because we are all human there will most likely be more of these in the future as well. For many of us every day brings new challenges that can leave you scratching your head wondering how to put it all together. We learn lessons the hard way, get stabbed in the back, make mistakes, say things we don't mean, and fall in love so fast sometimes it hurts. All of these things can drain you and leave you weary of wading through the incessant stream of problems. The catch 22 is, we have to keep moving or we can easily get swept away in it all. That's where perseverance comes into play and separates who makes it and who doesn't.

   In the memoirs of many successful businesspeople one can find a common trend. Many of them didn't always get it right the first time around! Most of the highly successful self-made people in the world have struggled through many trials and tribulations in their ascension, similar to those that you and I face everyday. They key amongst all of these people is that they didn't give up when they were told that they were crazy, it couldn't be done, or that no one would care if it was. When they failed or faced a setback they scrambled to overcome it and try again. It's the spirit of those people that were discouraged and downtrodden by their peers that allowed them to keep on going and eventually build our society and the world as we know it today.

   The future is impossible to foretell but one thing is guaranteed, it hasn't happened yet. Things may be tough right now but that doesn't mean they are going to stay that way forever. It also doesn't mean that they will automatically get better on their own. Contrary to popular media darlings like “The Secret” and “What the *bleep* do we know?” you can't just wish really hard for good things and then expect them to happen. Seriously, without the inhospitality of rain we couldn't enjoy the tranquility and beauty of flowers right? Well, like many things in nature, it's the same principle in life. I have to remind myself on a daily basis that everything I struggle for and believe in comes at the price of the struggle itself.

   If we want good things in life we have to fight for them. We have to suffer through bad days to get to the ones that make us realize how much life is really worth. We have to make mistakes to find out what the right answers really were. Our trust must be broken to find out how much it really means to us before we give it out freely again. And sadly, sometimes we also have to lose someone we love to realize how precious the others in our life are.

   These are not easy lessons to learn and anyone who tries to sell you happiness based on the fact that they are is simply lying to your face. The easy road to the top is reserved for a select few and the rest of us must work diligently to get there. The most important part in succeeding is that we continue on and keep persevering despite how we feel about it right now. Many of these lessons won't be useful right away and you may not see the bright side but somewhere down the road have faith that you will indeed find it. I can look back throughout my life now and pinpoint exact times, places, experiences, and people that have taught me incredibly valuable lessons at a painful price. When I was in the moment of feeling that pain I was confused and scared and acted accordingly which often leads to failure. These confused actions and failures are my building blocks for what not to do today.

   As I grow older I seem to get a little more rational and a little less reactionary to failure and bad situations. I attempt to understand it for what it is, try to accept it, and look for ways to learn from it and move forward. That doesn't mean that problems don't add up and weigh heavily on me at times. Thats why I write articles like this as a personal outlet. To not only work it out internally and encourage myself, but to relay it to others with the hope that maybe it sheds a little clarity on their own situations or helps them get by with just enough hope. Maybe it's also a little selfish instant gratification of seeing a bright light on a dim day but when someone emails me or messages me and tells me that my words of encouragement helped them to get through their own dark period, it makes it all worth it for me. Not only that, but it motivates me to find the meaning and purpose in my current struggles which is a key part to surviving the onslaught of life with your sanity intact. Dealing with a bunch of meaningless setbacks and failures can be incredibly disheartening and drive you crazy by asking the infamous “Why me?!” question. I've found that in the end, it all means something. The answer to why me is; it's always you because you're the one experiencing it.

   Good, bad, or indifferent our struggles and hardships in life give us the character that makes us unique. Finding a reason to continue to fight these battles is imperative if your goal is to better yourself and make it through life stronger and wiser than those around you. Purpose and meaning in life can come in any shape or form. Love, relationships, children, animals, music, art, hobbies, learning, reading, writing, and (if you're careful) your career or company, can all hold meaning and purpose. Just remember, rarely are you truly alone in your struggle and it could always be worse. No matter how desperate times may seem, or how much you fail, you can always make it better with perseverance and by dedicating yourself to what you love and care about. The pain and heartache IS worth it in the long run, you just gotta hold on and ride out the storm! Don't be afraid of life, embrace every aspect of it! After all is said and done, we're only privileged to experience any given moment once...

         John

The Lonely Girl

She sits alone; a breeze twists briskly by softly caressing her sullen face...

Inadvertently it chills the slick tears she tried to quickly wipe from their place…

It took every bit of strength to keep her lips from quivering and hold her head with grace…
She slyly blots her eye and looks around before sinking back into thought, fingers interlaced…

Salty prisoners caught running from the dreams played out on the backs of her tired eyelids...
Feeling trapped in a nightmare... shocking images of a shattered past littered with lonely silence...
Something’s just not right there, maybe she was cheated on or the victim of domestic violence…

Desperately wishing that just one of these assholes would show her some compassion or kindness...

But here she sits on a bench stomaching the thought of being alone to face the world herself...
Its a bitter taste that doesn't age well unlike the fine wines she keeps for relief on the shelf…

She’ll take a couple sips and feel the hate swell, jealousy perched on her shoulder like a devilish elf...

Whispering doubt til she really believes it with every cell, feeling like she can trust NO man for help...

The familiar thoughts creep through the back of her head like silent thieves...
As she weeps they swipe the hope right from the air she desperately gasps to breathe…

Every breath alone makes the pain, hurt, and emotions grasp at her heart and seethe...

Her body’s tired from the sobbing reluctantly causing her stomach and chest to heave...

“Am I destined to be alone forever?”
“Will I ever find a man that isn't trash, but treasure?”

Her girlfriends try to help but sometimes she doesn't like to let herself believe them…
Cause at the end of the night she sleeps alone while they're with their husband sleepin...

She convinces herself the man of her dreams must not love her or that he simply doesn’t exist...
But that couldn’t be further from the truth, he IS real… he just doesn't know where she is…

Note: This was inspired by the lonely girl I saw at the bus stop today.. You'll probably never read this but I hope it all works out for you!

Embracing Pain

Sometimes I wish I could talk about the pain an hurt that I hold inside..
I guess it’s just a matter of maintaining self worth and emboldened pride…
That, and I hate revealing the scars and wounds I take time to carefully hide…
 Because I’m pretty sure that’s not a look of empathy I’m seein there in your eye…

See, I’m usually the last man in the line lookin for a handout or pity…
And sometimes I’d rather stroll at night alone and get swallowed up by the city,
than go out thinking about how I’m feelin hollow an still tryin to act witty..
But it’s a good thing I got drive to get past it and I thank my father that he instilled it in me..

See I grew up a good kid on the wrong side of the tracks, just a half a block past hope..
Had a childish dream of bein a politician or a lawyer but here I am, still ass broke...
That life was stolen when the last bit of air was gasped from my fathers throat..
It wasn't his fault he passed away that night, I just never learned to cope..
Instead I went out an found another life, I stayed hustlin an lightin up dope..
Constantly lookin at my morals dying through a smokey sniper scope...
A shell casing of self loathing almost destroyed the work of my loving folks..

Still through it all my mom an sis never gave up on me though..
Matter of fact, they fought harder for me at times than I did, that's the love I know!
Real talk, my big sister probably saved the life of her little kid bro..
That day she dragged my ass to college, pointed me forward, and told me to go!

I didn’t change overnight though an I’m still walkin forward on that road..
Yea, I’ve stumbled to the point that all I got left now is bloody nubs for toes..
But one foot keeps falling diligently a step ahead of where the other goes..
An aching reminder in every stride that pain and I are forever juxtaposed…

Burned into my consciousness, it’s seared deep with a long list of heartbreaks and R I P’s...
Coupled with the dull ache of lonely nights, lost love, and shattered beliefs…
These thoughts clatter around in my head whether I’m awake or asleep..
But with twin sides to every dagger, it also keeps me sharp on my feet..
Cause I don’t think there’s a heaven with angels pluckin harp strings on a golden street..
It sounds too good to be true… when it ends, I think we just skid to a stop, a whole six feet deep…

To me, there ain’t nothin heavenly about a grave, no matter how elaborate the headstone…
I know from experience that cross displayed won’t ever give you a hug or a friendly welcome home..
Even so, I still persuade myself to open my heart an truly love my fam, now I never fear the unknown..
In order to cope I’m self taught, my lesson plan to shed words instead of tears, formed into a poem..

So I live with the pain inside and hurt that glows deep in my bones and I’m learnin to happily explore it..
Call me a masochist, but I figure if I gotta suffer a beautiful life on earth, I might as well be smiling for it..

Recognizing Your Accomplishments

I’m the type of person that will have a conversation with anyone. I like to get to know people because they motivate and inspire me. Movies tell stories of glory, triumph, and heartache but never with the reality and conviction of looking into someone’s eyes and seeing determination and heartfelt passion about something in life. The struggles, the success, the failures, and the lessons learned from them, all culminate to make us who we are and everyone has a unique story. All the time I hear of people surviving horrible conditions, heart wrenching stories of loss, and incredible hardships while smiling and persevering for a bigger cause.

                The story varies from person to person but the feeling of noble accomplishment is the same when you achieve a personal triumph or goal. Take a minute to think about something in your past that moves you deeply that you have accepted and/or overcome. Embrace that feeling of breathing free knowing you did what you set out to do, despite what the world told you or how it tried to stop you. Your accomplishments and aspirations represent the best of who you are. Remind yourself of these personal triumphs at every tough point in the road. Whether you think you’re at a low or not, whatever you’re dealing with, it can be conquered and can become another building block in the person you wish to be. If you don’t believe me think about what you’ve already done.

                Maybe you grew up with nothing and have built yourself into something you always wanted to be. Maybe you’re a single parent raising the most amazing kids in the world when people told you that you’d never make a good mother or father. Maybe you beat alcoholism or drug addiction when the people around you told you it couldn’t be done and you shouldn’t even bother trying. Maybe you finally got the courage to leave an abusive or unworthy lover you felt stuck with for whatever reason. Maybe you had to raise brothers or sisters cause you’re parents couldn’t, shouldn’t, or wouldn’t. Maybe you went from homeless to buying a new home. Maybe life blindsides you with every sucker punch from every direction in the book but you still keep waking up everyday ready to take it. Whatever your story is, look at your accomplishment(s)!

                The scars of days past and internal tears seem to pale in comparison to the feeling of pride deep down inside for what you do, what you’ve done, or who you are. Everything that defines the best of your character comes from the moments when you push yourself past your comfort threshold to do something significant in your life. When you’re faced with a challenge you’re intimidated by, think back to your accomplishments of the past. You were just as nervous, just as scared, just as excited then. Nothing has changed! Never doubt yourself, because you still have the power to do everything you ever did and more. You just have to look back and remind yourself of the mountains you’ve climbed to get where you are, and when you look back at what’s in front of you, it becomes a relative mole hill. All it takes many times in simply to have faith in yourself and what you believe in. Believe that you can get what you dream about. Believe there is love out there for you. Believe that there is hope left to be found. Believe that there are people out there that care, or will care!

Think of life like a roller coaster, not for the ups and downs, but for the anticipation and anguish you feel in line while you contemplate what’s ahead with mixed feelings. Those feelings melt into sheer exhilaration and excitement once you step on and go. The ride is amazing and then feelings of happiness, satisfaction, and elevation from conquering your silly fears arrive when it’s all over. Looking back, it’s not a problem to get in line again and give it a shot because you know you can do it and you know how rewarding it was. It’s the same principle with taking action in life. Use your triumphs to not only define your character, but to spur yourself to take action and be whatever you want to be. Live your dream, confess your love, play it safe or take a chance. It doesn’t matter just believe in yourself every second of the way. Don’t forget how far you’ve come! Give yourself some credit and be brave about whatever you’re facing! You’ll look back on it someday and wonder why you were ever worried!

Hope it helps and I hope you all enjoy the Blogger Picture! Don’t forget to hit the like button, give a thumbs up on your stumbleupon bar, or share the blog with your friends! Thanks!