Joshua Benton writes in NiemanJournalismLab:
I gave a talk to a high school in Toledo on Friday, which gave me a chance to do some ad hoc focus-grouping of how teenagers engage with media. (To put the demographics in perspective, this is a private school that, beyond some scholarship kids, is mostly upper-middle class and up.) We covered a lot of interesting ground: They don't care much about blogs or Twitter, for instance, and they get more news from The Daily Show and Colbert than anywhere else.
But the most surprising topic we covered was Facebook. Well, it wasn't a surprise to learn they live on Facebook; the consensus was that they spent about 60-90 minutes each night on the site, not counting the midday checks at computers in the school library or on their phones. These kids (there were about 80 or so) are smack in the middle of the Facebook demo. But here's what surprised me:
I asked them what they would do if Facebook announced tomorrow that it now cost $10 a month. Not one teen was willing to pay.
The rest of the post and the comments are interesting ... and disconcerting, especially if you happen to make a living stringing one word after the other.
The Leader in Network Knowledge
value of facebook
I think this is very true. I am not a youngster but while I like and use Facebook daily, I certainly do not consider it a "must have" app. And I seriously doubt I would spend even $10/yr much less $10/mo. While fun, it's just not all that critical.
All studies and anecdotes say this is true, yet ...
People think nothing of paying $10 to see a movie that's over in 2 hours and might not be any good. Facebook (or whatever one enjoys regularly online) provides endless hours of entertainment and enjoyment. The fact that so few express a willingness to pay is on some level mystifying. I believe it has more to do with conditioning -- "the Internet is supposed to be free, dagnabbit" -- than it does a conscious weighing of value vs. cost.
Not so sure
I don't know. I think those are two different issues. When a new movie comes out your options to view it are limited. So you either go to the theater or wait for the DVD.
But there are many ways to keep in touch with your friends and family using a variety of tools: cell phone, text messaging, email, Twitter, other social networking sites, instant messaging, and even Windows Live, (for whatever that is worth).
So if Facebook wants to charge a subscription for it's use then it has to be so great that users won't just jump to other options. I like Facebook but I also use a variety of other apps that are similar, if not quite as comprehensive. All of which are either free or included as part of my regular internet access package.
Just look at what is happening to AOL. Even the once mighty AOL is offering a free service.
But if Facebook wants to charge a subscription fee then more power to em. I might even consider something like $1.00/mo. But it will be a hard sell.
Thanks to the author of this
Thanks to the author of this editorial. Lots of exciting materials here. quick loan quick loan quick loan
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