For the first time, Facebook recorded more than a billion active users in a 24-hour period. We're told that Monday saw about 15% of the world's population log in to watch cat videos, argue about politics, stalk ex-lovers, and publicly complain about bad service.
Read 'em and weep, Google+ and Twitter.
But don't forget: If the service is free, you are the product.
In IT Blogwatch, bloggers, like, like Like, like.
Your humble blogwatcher curated these bloggy bits for your entertainment.
Stuart Dredge unearths this from the bottom of the news lake:
Mark Zuckerberg has announced a new milestone for the social network: one billion daily users. ... Facebook has been growing steadily, and in the second quarter of 2015 it averaged 968 million daily active users.
…
The milestone came shortly after Facebook revealed its latest product, Facebook M, a virtual assistant. ... Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan recently announced that they are expecting a baby girl. MORE
So Simon Sharwood says Monday brought a "new low for humanity":
On that day a billion of your fellow homo sapiens logged on to Facebook, which subsequently decided humans can't be trusted to do their own shopping.
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Facebook says “M” differs from the like of Siri and Cortana because it “can actually complete tasks on your behalf. It can purchase items, get gifts delivered...book restaurants, travel...and way more.” [It's] Facebook finding a way to take a cut of a heap of transactions its billion-a-day members conduct. MORE
Muckety-muck Zuck's luck sucks: [You're fired -Ed.]
We just passed an important milestone...and it's just the beginning of connecting the whole world.
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Our community stands for giving every person a voice, for promoting understanding and for including everyone [in] a stronger society that reflects all of our values. MORE
Lily Hay Newman explains and contextualizes:
[His] comments are in line with Facebook's ongoing, but controversial, effort to bring...connectivity to everyone through its Internet.org initiative.
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There weren't even 1 billion cars in the world until 2010. MORE
Meanwhile, Andrew Hutchinson nixes naysayers (nicely):
For all the various speculations of user-migrations and the declining popularity of Zuckerberg’s social behemoth, the numbers just keep on climbing.
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One in seven. That’s an undeniable stat. [It] once again highlight[s] the importance of Facebook in our wider communicative process, and the increasing role it plays in people’s...lives.
Maybe you’re not that into Facebook...but many people are. ... Ignoring that audience is most likely a big mistake for brands. MORE
And Finally...
The origin of the "you are the product" saying: Richard Serra in 1973
[hat tip: Brent Thomson]
You have been reading IT Blogwatch by Richi Jennings, who curates the best bloggy bits, finest forums, and weirdest websites… so you don't have to. Catch the key commentary from around the Web every morning. Hatemail may be directed to @RiCHi or itbw@richi.uk. Opinions expressed may not represent those of Computerworld. Ask your doctor before reading. Your mileage may vary. E&OE.
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