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A Critical Business Lesson From Facebook In the midst of Facebook's monumental Nasdaq listing in 2012, amidst the company-wide excitement, Mark Zuckerberg and his leadership team remained laser-focused on one critical goal: the transition to mobile. They recognized that this shift was the "main thing" – the key to Facebook's long-term success in an increasingly mobile-centric world. To achieve this, Facebook took radical steps. They acquired Instagram and its team of mobile-savvy developers, infusing their ranks with crucial expertise. They retrained hundreds of engineers in mobile-native software development, fostering a company-wide shift in skills and perspective. Zuckerberg himself dove into the intricacies of mobile technology, leading by example in the pursuit of this critical objective. The results speak for themselves. Today, Facebook dominates the mobile marketing and advertising space, with share prices skyrocketing to more than 10 times their value since the company's Nasdaq debut. The rapid pace of change, coupled with the evolving demands of your clients, demands a critical question that business owners need to answer: "What is the main, that’s the main thing, that you need to keep the main thing?" To identify your main thing, look for the constraints and problem areas within your industry. Where are the bottlenecks? What are the emerging trends? What do your clients need that they're not currently getting? This question cuts through the noise and zeroes in on the core focus that will drive your business forward in the face of ever-changing circumstances. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, at Scale to Impact, we've identified our own "main thing": AI What's your MAIN THING, that's your MAIN THING? #AI #innovation #businessimpact #scaletoimpact #operations #onlinebusinessmanagement

Welcome to the second episode of the series "Unlocking Business Brilliance through Tech". Remember the cringe-worthy days of Facebook when we'd upload hundreds of photos from a day trip into a single album? But have you ever stopped to ponder how we even joined Facebook in the first place? Born out of a Harvard dorm room in 2004, Facebook (now Meta) was Mark Zuckerberg's brainchild, driven by the insight that humans are inherently social beings, destined to replicate their real-life interactions online. Initially, the platform experienced exponential growth, but soon hit a plateau, leaving many skeptical about its future. Enter Chamath Palihapitiya, the former VP of User Growth at Facebook, who revolutionized the way people engage with social networks forever. Unlocking the Power of Network Effects: Palihapitiya understood the concept of network effects—the idea that the more users a platform has, the more valuable it becomes for everyone. Leveraging this principle, he devised ingenious strategies to reignite Facebook's growth. One such strategy involved showcasing the "People You May Know" tab upon signup, inundating users with familiar faces and encouraging them to stay on the platform. The Magic Behind Recommendations: But how does Facebook know who you may know? Behind the scenes, sophisticated algorithms, such as the FriendRank algorithm and machine learning models, analyze your contact information, social connections, and behavioral patterns to recommend potential friends. FriendRank, for instance, assigns a score to each potential friend based on mutual connections, interactions, and shared interests, ensuring the most relevant suggestions. From Data to Recommendations: Your phone contacts, email address book, and mutual friends—all contribute to Facebook's recommendation engine. By crunching this data, Facebook creates a personalized experience tailored to your social circle, ensuring you're always surrounded by familiar faces and meaningful connections. Think of it as your virtual social concierge, introducing you to new friends and rekindling old connections with a swipe of your finger. Thanks to Palihapitiya's innovative approach and the technical wizardry behind Facebook's recommendation engine, the platform has evolved into a global powerhouse, connecting billions of people worldwide. So, the next time you see a familiar face pop up on your "People You May Know" tab, remember the complex algorithms that brought them to your screen. #facebook #meta #tech #software #softwareengineering #markzuckerberg #programming #webdevelopment

💥The Future of Facebook: As Facebook continues to evolve, its future trajectory remains uncertain. The rise of new technologies, such as augmented reality and virtual reality, presents opportunities for innovation and expansion. However, regulatory pressures, competition from emerging platforms, and shifting user behaviors pose significant challenges. Nonetheless, Facebook's global reach, extensive user data, and financial resources position it as a formidable force in the tech industry for years to come. Don't Copy 😊 #LamiaSultana #content #article #facebook #contentwritting #contentwriter #Facebook #linkedin

I bet you didn't know this about Facebook! Facebook’s, now Meta’s, iconic "Like" button almost went by a different name. Yes! It was initially intended to be called the "Awesome" button! But why didn't the team at Facebook decide to go with that name? Well, according to Facebook Engineer Andrew Bosworth, who shared insights on Quora, the journey of naming this small but impactful button began with various ideas, including stars and a plus/minus sign. The "Awesome" concept aimed to connect users with the entire internet. However, Mark Zuckerberg and the team ultimately opted for the simplicity of "Like" over "Awesome." Now, despite being ready to launch the "Like" button by November 12th, 2007, there were some concerns. The team was worried about whether the interactions should be public or private. There was also the fear of potential conflict with Beacon, another feature, and the possibility that it might take attention away from the share feature. All these worries prompted Zuckerberg to hit the pause button on the "Like" button's grand entrance. It was like having a surprise party ready, but then thinking, "Wait, is it the right time?" So, they took a step back to figure things out. During this contemplation phase, another platform, FriendFeed, swooped in and launched their "Like" button. Thereafter, Facebook, undeterred, took two more years to officially roll out their universal "I enjoy this" button in February 2008. It was then extended to all websites in April 2010. Today, Facebook's like button spans the digital landscape, becoming a universal symbol of acknowledgment and approval. Experts estimate that an average person presses the like button on social media, blogs, and various online platforms over 6,000 times per year, making it a ubiquitous form of expressing approval in the virtual realm. You see, sometimes in life, the smallest decisions can lead to the biggest impacts and I thought why not add to that by sharing a fascinating tidbit from the tech world. P.S. Liked this? Follow Ashim Jolly for more such stories and facts! #stories #entrepreneurship #business #technology

You know that feeling when something massive is on the horizon, and you can’t quite explain it, but deep down, you know it’s going to change everything? That’s how I felt when I first saw Facebook. I didn’t get it at first. Why would anyone care about what their friends were doing every minute of the day? But then it hit me… Facebook wasn’t about what people were posting—it was about who was watching. It was the chance for businesses to be seen by anyone, anywhere, at any time. That moment completely transformed how I approached building a brand, and it changed the entire landscape of business. Now… I’m getting that same exact feeling again. But this time, it’s with AI. And before you roll your eyes because everyone’s talking about it, let me tell you—this is different. The AI I’m talking about isn’t just about automation or algorithms. It’s about redefining how you connect with people and who you can become in your business. It’s not just some new tool—it’s a way to elevate yourself and your brand in ways that were never possible before. And trust me, just like with Facebook, most people aren’t seeing the full potential yet.

Mark Zuckerberg to new-hire Aditya Agarwal : “If I can build Facebook you can build a search engine” Aditya recalls starting at Facebook in 2005. A few weeks into his new role, Mark Zuckerberg comes up to him and suggests he build a search engine: “When people come to Facebook, the first thing they want to do is search for people.” Aditya’s first reaction was that search was a really important thing to get right and he had never built a search engine - wouldn’t it make more sense to just hire somebody from Google or Yahoo to do it? Mark replied: “If I can build Facebook, you can build a search engine.” And he was right - Aditya did end up building search for Facebook. This interaction also left a lasting impression on Aditya: “All of us can build whatever we put our minds to. And this is the culture that for me still defines Facebook - there is this hacker, can-do, total-ownership culture. If I could tell every startup in the world to take one thing, it would be you can do whatever you want as long as you put your mind to it. It’s probably easier than you think.” Video Source: @southpkcommons

Mark Zuckerberg to new-hire Aditya Agarwal : “If I can build Facebook you can build a search engine” Aditya recalls starting at Facebook in 2005. A few weeks into his new role, Mark Zuckerberg comes up to him and suggests he build a search engine: “When people come to Facebook, the first thing they want to do is search for people.” Aditya’s first reaction was that search was a really important thing to get right and he had never built a search engine - wouldn’t it make more sense to just hire somebody from Google or Yahoo to do it? Mark replied: “If I can build Facebook, you can build a search engine.” And he was right - Aditya did end up building search for Facebook. This interaction also left a lasting impression on Aditya: “All of us can build whatever we put our minds to. And this is the culture that for me still defines Facebook - there is this hacker, can-do, total-ownership culture. If I could tell every startup in the world to take one thing, it would be you can do whatever you want as long as you put your mind to it. It’s probably easier than you think.” Video Source: South Park Commons

A great lesson and reminder here from Zuckerberg... 
Nobody knows anything.

We can all spend years creating robust features and complicated products that may never be used. 
A simple poke became a social media staple for connecting. Early Facebook was all about creativity and experimentation.
This just shows the power of simple, fun ideas in tech.
 Simplicity often trumps complexity. The Poke wasn't planned with grand strategy.
It was about playful connection. No overthinking, just execution.
 Zuckerberg's early vision prioritized user engagement. Casual, lighthearted interaction drew people in. Sometimes the simplest ideas have the biggest impact. He builds, tests, learns, and iterates. Innovation thrives on experimentation.

🌐 Enshittification: The Big Tech Trainwreck Remember when social media apps were fun and not just data-stealing monsters? Enter: Enshittification. This crude yet perfect term captures the messy path tech companies inevitably take from awesome to awful. Take Facebook's journey, for example—a rollercoaster of promises, betrayals, and yes, enshittification. Facebook’s rise from a college dating site to a global giant follows a three-step process: 1. User Love: Facebook started with promises of privacy and community. It was the cool, non-creepy alternative to MySpace. We were hooked. 2. Business Betrayal (Plot Twist): As Facebook grew, it turned to making money. Advertisers got all our juicy data, and publishers got traffic—at our expense. Suddenly, we were the product. 3. Value Squeeze (The Sequel): In the final stage, Facebook squeezed everyone—users, advertisers, and publishers. We got fewer updates from friends, more ads, and endless algorithm changes. All to make shareholders richer. As Facebook digs deeper into this mess, it's risking a revolt. Users, sick of ads and lackluster content, might finally bail. Facebook’s challenge is keeping just enough value to keep us all stuck before it all falls apart. Can Facebook survive its enshittification phase, or will its quest for cash be its undoing? #BigTech #Facebook #Enshittification #TechEthics #DigitalTransformation

New Post: Instagram and Threads will no longer ‘proactively’ recommend political content - https://lnkd.in/gHmt3iBy - Meta doesn’t want its new app Threads to become another Twitter, full of heated political debates and the resulting toxicity that entails. In an announcement today, the company detailed how it will approach the recommendation of political content across both Instagram and its sister app, Threads, a competitor to Elon Musk’s X. In short, it © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. - #news #business #world ----------------------------------------------------- Download: Stupid Simple CMS - https://lnkd.in/g4y9XFgR ----------------------------------------------------- or download at SourceForge - https://lnkd.in/gNqB7dnp