[foaf-dev] Re: Social Networks that use FOAF

[Michael Wechner]

Phillip Rhodes wrote:

> Michael Wechner wrote:
>
>> Dom Ramsey wrote:
>> if FOAF is catching up and various webapp providers (as Sören is 
>> pointing out) are using FOAF in the background to exchange 
>> information (of course on the user's permission), then the user will 
>> profit a lot (without actually knowing that FOAF is being used)
>>
>
> The value I see in FOAF is for federating social networks and doing this
> exact sort of data sharing.  But it absolutely must be under the 
> user's control and the user must be able to control what information can
> flow "outwards."


exactly (this is why we have defined the third law of social networks: 
http://foaf.wyona.org/about.html)

But the Bob -> Alice -> Charles (and Charles is not a friend of Bob) is 
opening up quite some access holes!

>
> Agree with the earlier comment though, it isn't in the best interests of
> the "big players" to enable this sort of stuff right now. Heck, 
> Facebook only began putting the content of "facebook messages" into 
> the email they send you to tell you that you have a new message.  
> Obviously they are reluctant to do anything that helps users avoid the 
> need to go to
> their site and generate ad impressions.


I think it's a matter of time. If we start using decentralized server 
software and people have a real incentive to switch and a large enough 
market share is being taken from the big fours, then they will have to 
open up.

Cheers

Michael

>
>
> TTYL,
>
>
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-- 
Michael Wechner
Wyona      -   Open Source Content Management - Yanel, Yulup
http://www.wyona.com
michael.wechner at wyona.com, michi at apache.org
+41 44 272 91 61