I wouldn't dream of sending one of my friends an email now that they're all on Facebook. I do, however, have to communicate with older generations through email. I don't expect this to last for much longer though - Facebook is simply far more efficient. Why would you want to communicate through a medium that completely isolates each communication transaction? Facebook ties it all into one place, and makes communication relevant to all the important data that exists in your social network, i.e. videos, images, and audio.
orcmid
· 2 years ago
I get far more traction out of my e-mail reader than Facebook. I can reply easily, I can organize in different folders, and I can delete items from my in box and my sent box independently without having deletion in one place delete everywhere. I can subscribe to e-mail lists from anywhere (not within Facebook) and have an archive of the clippings that matter to me in my e-mail folders. I also can use desktop search on my e-mail folders, something I use a lot.
Of course, I'm one of those older people. Facebooks "all in one place" strikes me as an illusion.
Minger
· 2 years ago
people who use gmail tend to use gmail each other. ironically, social network messaging does not do cc and bcc, which are important social qualifiers. and email is probably easier on the blackberry or mogul than accessing fb messages.
Branton
· 2 years ago
"email is probably easier on the blackberry or mogul than accessing fb messages"
I use Facebook's mobile website all the time from my Motorola Q smartphone: http://m.facebook.com. It's not quite as easy as email, but I wouldn't describe it as painful.
Kari Chisholm
· 2 years ago
Yeah, I've been thinking about Facebook's email alternative for a while now.
Right now, they're are two things standing in the way of Facebook's Inbox really going wildfire as an email alternative... #1. The app isn't ready. It needs to be as full-featured as, say, Hotmail, Yahoo Mail, or Gmail. #2. Not everyone is on it.
Those are both easily surmountable, though. #1 is easily achievable with Facebook's engineering team (or, if they get bought out by someone else who already has an email app.) #2 is already underway. They'll soon hit 50 million people. Somewhere in that range is likely the tipping point.
Why would people switch? Because there's no spam in the Facebook Inbox. It's pretty powerful when the only people that can email you are people that you've given permission to email you.
Of course, in order for this to work as a true email alternative, Facebook will have to ditch the 1000-member silencing of groups. (Which is, btw, stupid. People can un-join a group if they don't like what they're getting from 'em.)
For years, people have been trying to solve the spam problem. Facebook has -- they just need to realize it.
davemc500hats
· 2 years ago
only thing i don't like is the facebook message cc out to my normal email doesn't tell me what the friggin message says (altho the mobile connection does).
but i agree, starting to see a pattern of behavior shifting.
great blog btw. and i think i like the background highlighting on your links... it was a bit odd at first, but then i realized it's a very strong call-to-action highlight. (altho maybe a slightly light yellow could be less jarring / still effective). anyway, it's neat :)
Eric Rice
· 2 years ago
E-mail being in such a sad state, I'm quite fine that Facebook (and anything like it) puts up a big stop sign of 'approve first, communicate later'. There's no spam because of that (aside from friend spam, heh).
Add a little finesse to messaging, and sure, I'm game. Throw up the walls!
All Comments
Of course, I'm one of those older people. Facebooks "all in one place" strikes me as an illusion.
I use Facebook's mobile website all the time from my Motorola Q smartphone: http://m.facebook.com. It's not quite as easy as email, but I wouldn't describe it as painful.
Right now, they're are two things standing in the way of Facebook's Inbox really going wildfire as an email alternative... #1. The app isn't ready. It needs to be as full-featured as, say, Hotmail, Yahoo Mail, or Gmail. #2. Not everyone is on it.
Those are both easily surmountable, though. #1 is easily achievable with Facebook's engineering team (or, if they get bought out by someone else who already has an email app.) #2 is already underway. They'll soon hit 50 million people. Somewhere in that range is likely the tipping point.
Why would people switch? Because there's no spam in the Facebook Inbox. It's pretty powerful when the only people that can email you are people that you've given permission to email you.
Of course, in order for this to work as a true email alternative, Facebook will have to ditch the 1000-member silencing of groups. (Which is, btw, stupid. People can un-join a group if they don't like what they're getting from 'em.)
For years, people have been trying to solve the spam problem. Facebook has -- they just need to realize it.
but i agree, starting to see a pattern of behavior shifting.
great blog btw. and i think i like the background highlighting on your links... it was a bit odd at first, but then i realized it's a very strong call-to-action highlight. (altho maybe a slightly light yellow could be less jarring / still effective). anyway, it's neat :)
Add a little finesse to messaging, and sure, I'm game. Throw up the walls!