Building New Tech Products Won't Save Facebook Until It Rebuilds Trust
01 thg 8, 2019
Another day, another device. Facebook is shopping around a deviceto Netflix, Disney+, Amazon and others to fill with content...and a camera inside. Aside from a woefully unnecessary bit of technology the world doesn't need, Facebook continues to miss the larger point. More invasive technology, however fantastic, won't excite anyone if they don't trust you not to sell every last inch of their data. Right now, in case you're unclear, we're there.
Facebook is many things but stupid isn't one of them. The company appears deaf as a post when it comes to rolling out things. The proposed device (dubbed 'Catalina') will be a content streaming version of 'Portal'. You'd be forgiven for not knowing about Portal. The launch was monumentally poorly timed and has yet to make any real impact in both revenue terms for Facebook and the consumer technology landscape.
Set to launch this Fall, Catalina is equally unlikely to thrill consumers that are on the verge of recession but more so, who don't trust you. Facebook should be wary of spending so much time, money and effort building products that people don't want when the one you are famous for is on fire in multiple areas. What should Facebook do to build trust? Change your ways would be a smart play - even just a little. Facebook doesn't seem to want to as that may halt the money printing presses, the big blue app keeps working 24/7.
Facebook doesn't need to decide whether they want to be a force for good and have a product that they want people to use not feel they have to use. The actions of the company have shown the side they pick time and time again. Shareholders. Doing so makes Facebook a good business but not a good company. The issue ahead of Facebook becomes less if people will ever trust Facebook again, that ship has sailed unless they find a new business model. Instead, the issue will likely surround if Facebook kills or buys everything that rises up against it. Only here will the EU and FTC be of use in helping (read: force) Facebook to change its ways.
Facebook needs people to buy back into it but without changing the MO of the company this isn't going to happen and eventually the head will eat the tail. Oculus Quest, Portal and other technology that Facebook makes are good products but the flesh is weak. Fix that and you have a strong play.