Why they’re not going to leave Facebook

By Drew Millikin | October 20, 2011 | Comment |

Author’s note: This post originally appeared on my blog, www.drewmillikin.com. Only after much reassurance that it wasn’t complete garbage or offensive, I happily re-posted here.
-AMM

I saw this tweet from @markgr and had to write about it. The reason being, I don’t believe Google +, Diaspora or any other new social media tool has a chance until the come up with something completely different. I wish it wasn’t true, but all we have to do is look at recent history to see that it probably is.

All of these new ideas are just Facebook repackaged. Google Wave, Google Buzz, Google +, and Diaspora when distilled down to their basic structure and interface are all Facebook. There really isn’t anything different. Unfortunately, the one thing that they don’t have is the crowd. And they’re not going to get the crowd, until there’s a crowd there. There won’t be a crowd there until the product is actually new.

I’ve been on all five of the above. Here’s how my experience has gone:

1. Get hooked on the buzz that this is finally the revolutionary social network that is going to connect me with my friends without being evil.

2. Get the email saying that I’m part of an early beta testing group.

3. Log on, add my information and a photo.

4. Spend sometime skimming around the “news feed” equivalent. Upload a photo or two. Invite some friends.

5. Check in daily to see what’s new and who has joined up since he last time I checked an hour ago.

6. See that no one else is using it. Well, not no one. Lot’s of people in HighEd are writing about how this will change HighEd marketing because this will finally take down Zuck.

7. Begin checking less frequently—still finding that no one I went to college, high school, randomly know is one.

8. Give up and update my Facebook status.

And that’s it. Until something revolutionary happens, Facebook is it folks. It’s just like changing banks because of some outrageous fee their charging. Yeah, it sucks to pay the fee, but all my stuff is there. My paycheck is automatically deposited there. My bills come in through the online banking feature. I’ve got everything set up. It would be a pain to change. Plus I might miss a bill or two in the switch over.

I don’t care how frustrated people are with Facebook. The crowd is there. My crowd is there. I’m not moving without them.

About the Author

Drew Millikin

Drew Millikin is a social media hang-a-rounder. After a brief stint in banking, Drew decided that education was a much better place to hide. That brought him to his alma matter, Saint Michael’s College. While there he worked in the Office of Admission helping to create and develop Saint Michael’s social media marketing strategy. After five years of rabble-rousing in higher education Drew decided to move into the boarding school glam life. Currently working and living at Groton School, Drew is an upper school dorm head and the director of recent graduate relations. Using his skills learned at Saint Michael’s, he is working to create a dynamic and successful social media assault plan for Groton.

http://www.admissionsquest.com/ Peter Baron

I couldn’t agree with you more, Drew.
Ryan B.

Great post Drew. By the way I am changing my bank as we speak and it is a pain.u00a0
http://twitter.com/PopularFacebook Popular Facebook

Your 8 steps you highlighted pretty much described my Google+ experience.
http://twitter.com/21tigermike Michael A. Robson

What a joke. I haven’t done anything on G+ in about a week. Meanwhile, I check into Facebook daily and get lots of great messages and notifications from my friends.nnGet it? no one uses G+. That’s why it’s not addictive.nnIt’s not Facebook we love, it’s our friends. That’s it.
http://joesabado.com Joe Sabado

I use my mobile devices (iPhone, iPad, droid) for the majority of my activities on social media and in general. Until google+ mobile app improves, I don’t have any urge to use it. I was very excited initially but I rarely go to google+ now. I still find myself spending a lot of time between facebook and twitter.n
http://listento.jaketolbert.com Jake T

Pretty sure everybody said the same thing about MySpace/Facebook a couple years ago, too.
Pingback: Google Wave Sunsetting… a cautionary tale? | edSocialMedia
Kenny Embry

I’ve got to agree with Jake. The Internet is a strange place…and users tastes change. Remember Yahoo? Remember MySpace? Remember Palm? Remember WordPerfect? Remember Lotus? Remember CDs? Facebook is dominant…for now. If not Google+, then something else.