I am interviewing a lot of interesting folks starting two or so weeks from now at Web 2, Chris DeWolfe, Edgar Bronfman, Larry Brilliant, Lance Armstrong, Paul Otellini, Jack Klues, Michael Pollan, Elon Musk, Shai Agassi, and many more.
But I thought I’d start by asking you all this one question: Mark Zuckerberg is coming back (check the video of our interview here). What should I ask him this time? I have a lot of thoughts, but thought I’d start by asking you all….
Hmm,
Was allowing application developers to keep 100% of the revenue their apps generate the right decision?
Do you feel you need to monetize better – like it appears that MySpace is doing?
Do you see the credit crisis/impending recession as an opportunity for FB?
What has been something that has surprised you about the ways in which people use FB?
I would like to know more about his “Vision Quest” around the world and the changes enacted at Facebook upon his return.
Facebook seems a lot less hot than when Mark was on stage a year ago. Many key employees, including co-founders, have left the company. What is Facebook doing to remain an employer of choice in Silicon Valley? (also leads into new corporate campus)
Facebook.COM has been growing in complexity — and many users are apparently not happy with that.
In my view, the Wisdom of the Language (see http://gaggle.info/miscellaneous/articles/wisdom-of-the-language ) will prevail in a “World is Phlat” environment (PHLAT = “Pretty Hyper-, Local And Topical” 😉 — in other words: Websites will tend to become more and more “shallow” as the web becomes more and more expansive. Such shallow websites will be more focused and also easier to use than navigating through the maze of complex (“deep”) websites.
Do you see a role for your company in this development process — perhaps in propagating “online social standards”, or perhaps even functioning as a utility service — something that could be expanded beyond Facebook.COM to be used widely, across the entire web? (I know that your company is doing some things in this regard — what is your “vision” for 6 months ahead, 1 year ahead and beyond?)
Independent of the above question(s), to what extent do you feel that social applications should be “open” or “proprietary”? — and why?
1- What would he be doing NOW – had he not created Facebook
2- Who are some of his tech heros or role models
I am actually so jealous that you get to interview these people. I was wondering whether or not you ask them other questions that we never get to hear. I think you should ask him whether or not he is thinking of any other ideas to make a lot a cash on the Internet.
what is the greatest potential toward a second Enlightenment Era?
what is the greatest threat to that potential?
Again, will you ask the million dollar questions? I doubt it but here goes:
(1) Why are all your senior folks and former co-founders leaving before the liquidation event?
(2) Rumor has it that you’re going to have to raise money again sometime next year and that it will be a down round. What can you tell us about this?
(3) Why did Beacon fail?
(4) Why is your Apps program failing?
There has been a lot of discussion of late regarding the fact that Facebook, twitter, Flickr, etc are making blogs less relevant and will ultimately be the blog killers (note that i am igorning the fact that blogs have been taken over by corporate america becoming less pure on their own).
What does he see as the largest threat to depositioning Facebook?
In a fast evolving and increasingly viral cultural environment how does FaceBook stay relevant in the medium and long term?
After initial boom, facebook seemed to think that they are the answer to all the world’s problems (“facebook as a social utility”). They were the ultimate social network, making others (linkedin etc.) obsolete.
These ambitions were detached from their dna and expectations of their user base.
Now they seem increasingly like all before them – social network without a business model and not immune to coming out of fashion sooner or later.
Do they still have this grand vision of themselves, or will they start to be more focused?
Facebook is fast becoming the most visited site in workplaces, and many workplaces are banning Facebook because of this.
What would Mark say to the CEO of one of these companies? and does Facebook have any solutions that would give businesses a reason to lift their Facebook bans?
Also Google has Google.org… what does Facebook have or plan to do Philanthropically?
Cheers,
Kris
Mark
You have often said that the graph connections can change the world including political wrongs,and suffering communities (like your efforts with other Jewish,tech leaders to help Israel in the middle east. See Sergey’s utube video on Israeli tv, and mark and deckers and sergeys talks with Israeli politicians-together in unity). So if we throw sheep to get there
How do you see the influence of facebook on the world communication stage and that of other social media influencers like google to shape the world where web meets world. and in follow-up is this right, just cause i agree with the missions is it your place to use the leverage of the business in that way. Seems to be if they put a monetary value on it it could supersede all lobbying activity combined.
Facebook is a wonderful tool for keeping up to date with what your friends are doing. What tools does Facebook use itself to keep each other up-to-date with each other? Is there a corporate version of the News Feed?
While we’d like to think that all successful entrepreneurs have the fearless composure of a poker player like Phil Ivy, most of us behind a closed office door have found ourselves exhaling the words “holy shit.” You’ve had quite a ride so far and it isn’t over.
For fun, rewind just a bit, and tell us, what you might be doing right now if your were *not* building Facebook?
1. What is your vision for international. unfettered growth is great, but monetising each market can become difficult.
2. your growth rate and continued hiring must be putting a strain on your finances. looking at where the advertising market is going, how do you plan to reduce your burn
Will you ever request to be my friend?
If Facebook does not find a way to monetize its user base in a way that meets the expectations of investors like Microsoft, and ends up being a break-even or moderately profitable business, will you consider it a success and be satisfied?
The question that needs to be re-answered by the Facebook team, and Mark in particular, is:
“What is Facebook’s story?” – ie. Why should I use it? (why is Facebook remarkable from the user’s eyes, not Facebooks’s eyes, it’s partners’ eyes, Wall Street’s eys’s).
It is obvious that Facebook had a compelling story when they started, but as they’ve grown, has that story remained relevant? And relevant from the user’s POV.
With all the ways we can connect to people why should I connect using Facebook? That is the real question that we should be asking of Mark. But he can’t get away with thin or flippant answers. Once he has a core understanding of the value people perceive in Facebook, he’ll continue to make congruent choices (i.e. apps that make it easier to connect with people and not just add functionality to the site).
At least that’s my $0.02
smartinnovation.typepad.com
What’s the barest connect Facebook has with ConnectU? It might be inappropriate for you to say anything about the legal issues and the lawsuit against facebook but is it true that you worked for them in the project or could you tell why such a claim could have been made, without any proofs.