What makes Facebook work?  The Town Square Effect

A friend of mine told me a story last week about one of her colleagues who unexpectedly passed away. It was a terrible loss to the community and a shock to everyone who knew her. The interesting thing that came out of this tragedy was that people who knew her began to write on her Facebook page and even organized a memorial event through her page. 

It got me thinking about all of the ways our lives are being shaped and influenced by the new technologies that are available. Facebook allowed complete strangers the ability to collectively share an experience and help one another through a tragic event. It has become a gathering place, our town square, if you will, for the global community.

With over 300 million users (over 50% of whom log on daily) Facebook has been able to tap into a social behavior that people are latching onto in droves. 

So what makes it work?

WE DO.

Pure and simple, it is the daily interactions of our lives that humanize the Internet platform and make it an engaging place full of the vitality of our communities. By actively participating in this platform, each one of us is the reason it works.

What sets Facebook apart from the crowd?

Its ability to gather data and feed us information directed specifically to our interests and actions. No company, other than Google, is doing as much to gather and utilize this data. 

And as we contribute to the conversations and share our daily experiences, Facebook is taking note and tracking the details. Never before has a platform had access to such personal details of our lives in such a public way. It is a wonder to see Facebook maneuver this new medium and nimbly adjust to our uses, anticipate our desires, and defuse our frustrations. 

As long as Facebook continues to evolve and remain relevant, you and I will continue to make it work, or at least until something better comes along…