LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner sees no way Facebook and Google+ can both exist, and says it’s likely Google+ will come out on the losing end of the battle.
Weiner obviously has a slanted view on the social networking market because in his mind, no matter what the other players are, LinkedIn will always be relevant, which certainly can be disputed.
But, on a meta level, he had a pretty salient observation of social network functions in a recent Business Insider article.
There are three main, distinct purposes for a social network: “microcasting” all the latest goings-on in your life (Twitter), managing your professional life (LinkedIn), and connecting with friends and family.
The latter category is currently being taken care of quite well by Facebook. So where’s the need for a new social network? There isn’t one, says Weiner.
“You introduce Google+, where am I going to spend that next minute or hour of my discretionary time? I have no more time,” he said.
“Unlike social platforms and TV, which can coexist, you don’t see people using Twitter while they’re using Facebook, or using Facebook while they’re using LinkedIn.”
However, Weiner is neglecting the face that monopolies, even ones like Facebook, can be broken. In a recent customer satisfaction survey from ForeSee Results, Facebook ranked last among all website in the Social Media category, which included other sites like Youtube, Wikipedia, Twitter, and Myspace.
Facebook scored a 66 out of a possible 100, which isn’t terrible but it certainly leaves room for someone to swoop in and bring some healthy competition to the table.
And, Foresee CEO Larry Freed surmised, “Facebook is clearly king right now, but if anyone can knock it off its throne, it would be Google.”
