Facebook shares

[Old Hack]

They're not. As d000hg said, it's a premium service they're trialling, paying to promote a post (something you can already do in Twitter).

Bunk, I am not arguing, however, they are charging people, from 25p upwards, to highlight their posts.

That's all I am saying. It's happening, that isn't in doubt, and not up for debate, they are charging people, now, to highlight a post. Not solely businesses, but all FB users. So, e.g. if I wanted to highlight a party I was having, I could highlight the post to ensure it hits all my friends timelines.

That's charging to post, no matter how you dress it up. I am simply saying, that it is the thin edge of the wedge, imo.

[amcdonald]

You simply can't say it will never happen, especially if they are already trialling it. I'd love to have your sense of well being, and optimism, but I am cynical, deeply so, and believe it's just the start. How on earth, otherwise, can they justify a 1bn business be worth 100bn?

Seriously, I'll stand back from suggesting you're being niave, but surely you can see the path can't you? Or do you think that's it? I think it's the thin edge of the wedge. I'll bookmark the post too.

The trial includes posts from 25p, 50p and 1.25. I can see it now, jeez, lets everyone know I am engaged - £1, that'll highlight it on everyones feeds. Surely, you can see it?

I think it's simply the start of things to come.

If they do push on and start commercialising it, all it does is lower the barrier to the next Facebook to come along, start at the bottom of the cycle again and become the next big thing

[Sysman]

Bunk, I am not arguing, however, they are charging people, from 25p upwards, to highlight their posts.

That's all I am saying. It's happening, that isn't in doubt, and not up for debate, they are charging people, now, to highlight a post. Not solely businesses, but all FB users. So, e.g. if I wanted to highlight a party I was having, I could highlight the post to ensure it hits all my friends timelines.

That's charging to post, no matter how you dress it up. I am simply saying, that it is the thin edge of the wedge, imo.

At one time if you were posh you'd pay for an announcement of your engagement in The Times, if you weren't posh, you'd do the same with your local rag. Aren't FB simply offering the same service? And somewhat cheaper too.

I'm not sure if it's the thin end of the wedge or not.

[d000hg]

He's either trolling or genuinely too stupid to understand. Either way not worth arguing with him.

I'm sure soon we'll be paying 10p per Google search and 2p per email.

[Old Hack]

He's either trolling or genuinely too stupid to understand. Either way not worth arguing with him.

I'm sure soon we'll be paying 10p per Google search and 2p per email.

Don't start the ad hominem stuff, if you can't discuss anything like an adult, then you'll be treated like a child.

Q. Are they charging normal users to highlight their own posts?
A. Yes.

Q. Does this mean Facebook are charging users to make posts.
A. Yes.

I can't see how you're able to argue otherwise.

[jmo21]

Don't start the ad hominem stuff, if you can't discuss anything like an adult, then you'll be treated like a child.

Q. Are they charging normal users to highlight their own posts?
A. Yes.

Q. Does this mean Facebook are charging users to post.
A. No.

I can't see how you're able to argue otherwise.

FTFY.

You're talking about highlighting posts, not making a normal post, which is the core free "service" (if you can call it a service).

It may be picking hairs, but as Doog says, free basic service, paid for additional features is very common.

Would I (or most normal users) pay for this highlighting? No of course not. Will it fail? Maybe.

Am I glad I didn't invest? YEP!

[Sysman]

The Facebook Fallacy

For all its valuation, the social network is just another ad-supported site. Without an earth-changing idea, it will collapse and take down the Web.

In its Herculean efforts to maintain its overall growth, Facebook will continue to lower its per-user revenues, which, given its vast inventory, will force the rest of the ad-driven Web to lower its costs. The low-level panic the owners of every mass-traffic website feel about the ever-downward movement of the cost of a thousand ad impressions (or CPM) is turning to dread, as some big sites observed as much as a 25 percent decrease in the last quarter, following Facebook's own attempt to book more revenue.

You see where this is going. As Facebook gluts an already glutted market, the fallacy of the Web as a profitable ad medium can no longer be overlooked. The crash will come. And Facebook—that putative transformer of worlds, which is, in reality, only an ad-driven site—will fall with everybody else.

[russell]

The Facebook Fallacy

I kind of agree, in that facebook is primary used for communicating with friends, so you are not in shopping mode so adverts are wasted. Google though have the ultimate ad revenue system, people searching for things and may be willing to buy them can be targeted when in buy mode. The fact that companies still advertise on popular websites means that is is working for them.Another of Facebooks biggest problems is they haven't built advertising into their mobile app, which was a bit stupid wasn't it, with smart phones getting bigger screens and ipads etc there is no reason not to.

[d000hg]

Don't start the ad hominem stuff, if you can't discuss anything like an adult, then you'll be treated like a child.

Q. Are they charging normal users to highlight their own posts?
A. Yes.

Q. Does this mean Facebook are charging users to make posts.
A. Yes.

I can't see how you're able to argue otherwise.

No, they're charging users to HIGHLIGHT posts. This is optional. Seriously, get a grip.


And I know it's cool to throw "ad hominem" into an internet argument as a magic phrase to sound clever, but do make the effort to learn what the term means first next time.

[MarillionFan]

Don't start the ad hominem stuff, if you can't discuss anything like an adult, then you'll be treated like a child.

Q. Are they charging normal users to highlight their own posts?
A. Yes.

Q. Does this mean Facebook are charging users to make posts.
A. Yes.

I can't see how you're able to argue otherwise.

Hi Zoid