Facebook Part 3

The third part to Kirkpatrick's "Facebook Effect" primarily discusses what platforms are and how Zuckerberg was able to include a platform for facebook.  Basically having a platform allows other companies to make their own applications that can be installed into users facebook profiles.  Added the platform to facebook allows for much more interaction with facebook users and also outside companies to join in on the "facebook effect."  The possibles to applications are endless as thousands of programmers are all taking part in developing applications for facebook.  Kirkpatrick mentions some of the applications that are very popular and still used today such as photos, the wall, and causes.  These applications allow users to have a greater interaction with the site and also with friends and family.  What I also found interesting is that Zuckerberg had no plans in charging companies for their ability to develop and use applications on facebook.  He feels that this should be free to anyone who wishes to engage with the facebook platform, sticking to his long term view of his company and facebook.  I also found it interesting that facebook is developing the largest database for information for advertisers.  Companies can now advertise on facebook and feed their ads specifically to people who would be interested in their product.  After reading this I logged onto facebook to take a look at the advertisements that I never care to look at on the left hand side of the page.  I can see that the advertisements are in conjunction with the certain websites that I visit.  This aspect of facebook will change the way companies advertise to their customers.  So can see as you read through Kirkpatrick's book that Zuckerberg truly didn't know the potential of facebook when he first developed it, and it still continues to advance and become larger and more aspects and applications are being added.  The possibilities are endless.