Facebook can provide network effects but by leveraging your existing social graph. To me it feels like there’s a risk they’ll just cannibalise social activity on their existing apps rather than create a lot of new activity.
Twitter with my Instagram friends won’t feel like Twitter.
Re:Threads, an Instagram App
by rumblerock on Tuesday July 04, 2023 @03:15PM
(#36591365)
If only a small % of Meta's users start using the app, it'll quickly become an audience too big to ignore. Anyone with Twitter clout will have to maintain a presence there, and being there on Day 1 is an opportunity for them to possibly get more clout.
(1) Network effects
(2) Infrastructure competency
I think Facebook can provide these faster at a higher level than anyone else who is attempting it. For profit, things that would help include:
(1) No need for profitability
(2) Profit synergies with an existing business
Again, Facebook is a strong competitor here. They can start at #1 and integrate to achieve #2
To get people to switch from Twitter to your service it helps to have:
(1) Brand recognition
(2) Also be a social network
(3) A marketing budget
However, I think getting people to switch is the hardest part for any network; it's affected by many factors. There is also the consideration of getting them to switch, stay, and not be pulled away by a future competitor.