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Abadesi

POLL: Could you get by without using any Facebook products?

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I noticed that #DeleteFacebook is trending on Twitter today and it made me curious about how us makers rely on their products. While I don't use Facebook anywhere near as much as I did about 12-13 years ago in my college days, I rely on WhatsApp and Messenger to stay in touch with friends and family. Instagram is also the main marketing channel for my side hustle. I could not get by without using any Facebook products. Could you?

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Engin Kurutepe
WhatsApp would be the hardest one to drop but I would love it. Also since so many people use it I keep my accounts to be able to test my products against them. So I could get by just fine but I'm still reluctantly on board.
Abadesi
@ekurutepe I agree out of all of them I use WhatsApp the most. I have friends who aren't on FB or Messenger.
Swapnesh Patra
@ekurutepe I'm seriously waiting for a strong competitor for Whatsapp to show up! Don't like the monopoly.
Engin Kurutepe
@swapnesh_patra1 I wouldn't hold my breath. Any competitor needs to be 10x better to have any chance. The network effects are very strong: you wouldn't use another messenger if all your friends are on WhatsApp.
Swapnesh Patra
@ekurutepe Couldn't agree more. But would love to witness it happening
Maxim Leonovich
@ekurutepe @swapnesh_patra1 It's all about network effects so, 10x may be just not enough. Most of my network, for example, is on Telegram and so am I. I literally keep WhatsApp installed because of a single group I want to follow. Telegram as an app is quite great, better than whatsap but far from 10x..
Lanre Akinyemi
I've tried to use Signal & Telegram to replace WhatsApp as my primary communication tool but everyone I talk to is on WhatsApp so for now Facebook is a given in my life.
Edison Espinosa
@lanre_akinyemi remember at one point not everyone was on Whatsapp
Abadesi
@lanre_akinyemi I tried Telegram, too but no one in my close circle was using it.
Edison Espinosa
@lanre_akinyemi @abadesi as the innovator of your close circle gotta get them on it
Maxim Leonovich
@lanre_akinyemi @abadesi You can change friends ;) jk
Dan Edwards
I could get by, in that life would still go on without them. But I rely on them so much (in particular WhatsApp and Instagram) that I voted no. It would take a while for another product to replace either of them for me.
Abadesi
@de Same I don't really have perfect substitutes yet!
Jen ✏️
Unfortunately, fb is good for bringing site traffic since so many people still use it. I mostly only use fb groups & my page nowadays anyway. Most of my creative community hangs out on Instagram so it'd be quite difficult to leave it behind.
Edison Espinosa
@mellowbeing would you be open to an alternative ? I'm actually going to work on an instagram with chronological order and just simple how it used to be.
Thomas Groutars
I open Instagram once in a while but could really do without. I only use Facebook for events. I deleted my Facebook account in February, but had to create it again in July because I was organizing a party. I was also feeling out of the loop when I was not aware of events happening in my groups of friends. The problem is almost all of them rely on Facebook to create or keep track of events. I got addicted to Twitter and Reddit during that time, so I'm not really sure of the benefits it had 😅 I use almost exclusively Whatsapp to communicate with my friends and family, so it would be pretty hard to drop. That said, there is only one Facebook product that I absolutely couldn't live without, and it's React 😄
Abadesi
@thomgroutars I rely on WhatsApp for friends and family, too. It's really convenient for an international community. I know what you mean about getting left out. Most people use FB exclusively for organising events and if you're not on it you don't get invited.
Kondrat Yukov
Yes, I can !
Edison Espinosa
Whatsapp is just another messenger tool... Normal iMessaging for people. Here in the US that's not a problem Just as there wasn't a lot of people on Whatsapp, let's transition of it. Don't really use messenger. Instagram is just an influencer and ad show.. so while I also promote my startup on there. I'm sure I'll be better off with it anyways So let's all #deleteFacebook
Isaac González
@edisonjoao6871 Don't forget that FB inflate views on IG and FBWatch so you are also paying for fake views. :/
Radoslav Stankov
I use Facebook Events (for organizing) and Messenger. But, I can survive without Facebook.
Ahmed El-Kady
@rstankov Can I ask you why you don't use/like it anymore?
Lisa Popovici
In my opinion, email marketing is way more powerful.
Isaac González
@lisapopovici the problem is that not everyone is willing to give u their e-mail addresses, at least in comparison to IG or Twitter handles.
Shakks
I just use Facebook like a backup contact list.
Abadesi
@shakks it happens! WhatsApp is useful for me because not everyone is on the same model, in the same country, its a cheap way to stay in touch.
Laura
@shakks for sure, the contacts I made through Facebook are the sole reason I haven't deleted my account yet.
Graeme
I deleted fb and made a new one which has no friends to manage product pages. Still use whatsapp 😭
Loi Laing
I deleted my Facebook account 10 years ago, have been off Instagram since April (haven't deleted my account), and have been fine without either. Like Engin though, WhatsApp would be the most difficult because that's how I communicate with family and friends outside the US.
Ahmed El-Kady
I involuntary supposed to use FB at least for business, it become a global address book where you can find or search about any thing. But, I do believe it was the same thing 15 years ago when MySpace was the industry manipulator and now no one remember it.
Lydia Sugarman
I haven't figured out how to maintain regular communication with many friends and family members outside of Facebook. Expecting them to add another app that doesn't include their extended networks is problematic. Open to suggestions! Keep in mind these people range up to age 96.
John Karl Dusenbery
Unfortunately, I still need to contact businesses and some people on Messenger. And the events are really useful. Both could be replaced, but the user-base is not there on other platforms.
Alex
For all people who are not from the US - maybe we also could ask (In case that what happend in Venezuela with Adobe could happen in every country and with every (cloud) software from the US): Could we get by without using US (cloud) software in general?
Andrew Tye
I don't use Facebook but I do use WhatsApp daily
Ilango Rajagopal
Yup. I already do. WhatsApp was the hardest since a lot of my friends use it. But I still deleted it and haven't looked back since. If I ever go back it'll only be WhatsApp.
Laura
I definitely depend on Whatsapp for staying in touch with family and friends. And I like Instagram well enough. I won't miss Facebook and Messenger, though. Business-wise, Facebook can still be effective for traffic. But, to be honest, I get waaaay better results with more focused platforms.