With Goldman Sacks valuing Facebook at $50 B with the monies from a “Russian Investor”. I had to laugh. If the CIA had Google, why can’t the KGB have Facebook.
Mind you that is just speculation, but as we have all seen the blue bulb of the Internet, I want to raise a caution flag.
When the Internet was young and the carriers did not offer access, AOL was the primary dial up service. AOL was its own ecosystem and as such did not have the legs Facebook has, but as I watch my wife and her friends share their lives on Facebook in far too a familiar manner I ask myself is this the sustaining model of the future?
Many applications are offering me automatic links to Facebook including the ability to use Facebook as the userid and password.
For me it feels like Deep Packet Inspection is a wasted effort since Facebook knows all.
But the nuances of privacy are not normally a concern for the young. I think we have another 3-5 years before Facebook’s pervasive penetration is recognized as something that needs to be avoided.
While I hear parents and children fight about the invasion of privacy the fact that all generations are on this platform has not truly sunk in.
Over dinner I am constantly hearing of parents that are hiding the fact they read their kids pages.
I think when the next generation of parents sees their kids on facebook the level of parental control will either be integrated or force the kids into a new world.
I would love to hear of your experience. Drop me a line.
Your Secret is Safe with Me.
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/01/02/goldman-invests-in-facebook-at-50-billion-valuation/