Both Scoble and Marc Andreessen pan Ballmer's comments on Facebook being a temporary fad... Marc writes:
Via the UK Times:
"I think these things [social networks] are going to have some legs,and yet there's a faddishness, a faddish nature about anything thatbasically appeals to younger people," Mr. Ballmer told Times Onlineyesterday.
Ballmer subsequently added:
"I think these things [talking motion pictures] are going to havesome legs, and yet there's a faddishness, a faddish nature aboutanything that basically appeals to younger people."
"I think these things [televisions] are going to have some legs, andyet there's a faddishness, a faddish nature about anything thatbasically appeals to younger people."
"I think these things [rock and roll music] are going to have somelegs, and yet there's a faddishness, a faddish nature about anythingthat basically appeals to younger people."
"I think these things [hip hop music] are going to have some legs,and yet there's a faddishness, a faddish nature about anything thatbasically appeals to younger people."
"I think these things [fast food restaurants] are going to have somelegs, and yet there's a faddishness, a faddish nature about anythingthat basically appeals to younger people."
"I think these things [bikinis] are going to have some legs, and yetthere's a faddishness, a faddish nature about anything that basicallyappeals to younger people."
Check out the entire post to see the whole list of fads.
I am surprised by the short-sightedness of Ballmer's comments. Maybe it just him trying to minimize the impact Facebook will have on Microsoft's business by making comments he believes will marginalize it.
Nate Westheimer says:
But Facebook won't go up in flames. Instead, it will be aroundtomorrow, it will grow and change for a while...
And here's the crux of it. ALL technology, all trends have an inherent temporariness to them. But the word temporary is wrong... all technology, all fads, all trends evolve and change. Its in their nature to change, whether its social networking, TV, motion pictures, fast food, bikinis, mobile phones, music etc. Concerning the comment:
there's a faddishness, a faddish nature about anything thatbasically appeals to younger people
Even if it were true that there is a faddish nature about anything which appeals to young people and that those fads fade over time, I think Ballmer's fundamental assumption about Facebook and its appeal to just young people is incorrect. I personally have found it an incredibly useful social networking tool for my business functions as well. It certainly appeals to me and my colleagues and yes from a demographics perspective, I'm no teenager. In fact, I am a tail-end Baby Boomer.
link to original post