Is Facebook ruining Forums?

[Redman]

Add facebook to your word censor. My site which has been the most 'protected' from FB is where we don't allow 'add me' type threads for any sites that compete with us on our topic. And as they have forums (for pretty much any topic) they are added to the ban list.

However, the BBC and all the other media have given them so much free exposure now that it is becoming VERY hard to stay immune.

Best thing you can do is add them to your ban list as a competing site, don't allow 'add me' type threads (as it's just advertising). I just wish all the other admins did the same years ago... they wouldn't be so popular now. All the friends people make on your site, just get taken with them to FB and others - small sites can't compete with that.

BTW I have an idea for a social network that will hopefully be able to take on FB while remaining sympathetic to smaller communities like ours. ...just wish there were more hours in the day!

lol very well said. They are making a killing with freebie advertisements. At some point I think that they may loose a large percentage of hype. Let's not forget that Myspace was on top of their game until FB somehow exploded it's membership base. Myspace went from digital rags to riches, then back to digital rags as they say. Just be strong, continue to do what you do and work on your niche.

[jhooks]

They could create something like boards.ie A mega forum with sub boards each dedicating to specific topics.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/www.called.com/index.php/
Each sub-board has their own clan of dedicated members.

Wow, I really hope facebook doesn't do that. I mean I have a facebook, and I like it, but I just don't think I'd like it if they tried to take over everything. If they kept it the way it is now, I'd be happy haha.

[cpvrx]

lol very well said. They are making a killing with freebie advertisements. At some point I think that they may loose a large percentage of hype. Let's not forget that Myspace was on top of their game until FB somehow exploded it's membership base. Myspace went from digital rags to riches, then back to digital rags as they say. Just be strong, continue to do what you do and work on your niche.

Myspace also grew in popularity because of all the fansites backing them up - and then the owners flocked to Facebook because they thought there was more money involved in FB, which was said to be true.

The fact remains though, if you believe Facebook is ruining your community, then use it to your advantage - and build content on things that you see on FB. I know I do this and it works, especially when games in my niche have a page, and they post news on it, and then we forwarded it to our members - for more discussion.

[MikeJ]

The new internet in general has definitely had an effect on online communities. I do miss a lot about the web 1.0 days. When communities were separated and full of anonymous chatters with their online alter-egos they had more charm than being an extension of people's real life social network the way things operate today. Progress marches on though so what can you do.