Should Facebook Be Tapping Users for Cash?

It hasn’t even been a month since Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg told a German blog that growth, not monetization, was the priority for the social-networking site. In fact, he even went so far as to say that he didn’t see a revenue plan coming into play for three more years.

But now, as TechCrunch digs up info on Facebook’s financials, it appears that Facebook may not even make it to 2011 unless they can drum up more cash–either through an accelerated revenue model or more investment dollars before the entire global economy erodes further. In response, Facebook basically responds by telling VentureBeat that it’s doing just fine–thank you very much–while other sources say that something must be wrong with the Techcrunch calculator.

Recognizing that advertising on Facebook has offered “dismal” returns, some bloggers (Techmeme) are suggesting that maybe a subscription model–nothing too crazy, mind you–might be in order. At least one has said that the only thing holding Facebook back from imposing fees is a lack of guts.

Read the rest of this post


comments so far. Add yours.

  • Dan Perrin

    I’d think the allure of Facebook would disappear substantially if they start charging. The beauty of it is using it for free and having fun with the applications for free. Speaking of, this is my latest application craze:

    http://www.sortprice.com/facebook_wishlist/

  • http://blog.macb.net Mac Beach

    Above looks like comment spam.

    Anyway, I think growth in this area is over. Everyone in the world who wants to use these things is already doing so. Now Facebook needs to start stealing the remaining user base from Myspace, Orkut, Linkedin and so on.

    The article mentioned allowing users to have their own domain name. That’s an idea, but what about even having an email address associated with your “profile”?

    These things offer very little when it comes to traditional internet services. furthermore to offer such services will take far more infrastructure than they have already built.

    Myspace and Orkut actually have the backing to do all these things any time they want. Only Facebook has the challenge to become profitable, or even close to it. I don’t know where these two followers are waiting for Facebook to fall flat on its face or they just don’t realize the natural advantage they have to be able to outrun the front runner.

    Most people are petrified to put private information on the Internet (and rightfully so). I don’t see that changing for many years if ever.

    Social networking isn’t going to go away, but it’s not about to take over the world either. Within those two extremes there is money to be made, but there probably can’t continue to be three major players.

    Who will blink?

About Voices

This is a section of the AllThingsD Web site featuring posts that have been curated from around the Web: pieces we’ve read, discussions we’ve followed, stuff we like. Five posts are included here each weekday, but only the headline and the first two sentences. We link to the original site for the rest. The section is explicitly labeled, so it’s clear that content comes “from other Web sites.”

We also solicit original full-length posts and accept some unsolicited submissions. Voices is edited by Beth Callaghan.

Dive Into Media

Latest Video

View all videos »

Search »