DISQUS

VentureBeat: Facebook is finally going to launch the verified apps program — and more!

  • Robert Boyle · 7 months ago
    Hmm...
    Now I say this with a complete understanding that there are an inundation of Facebook apps. And that it is basically impossible (outside of establishing your own system) to determine which app to use over the others.... but....

    I just can't help but feel like allowing Facebook to determine which apps are verified is a very slippery slope. I have friends who work at and have worked at Facebook -- what if they decide to pick a market that is saturated (say SMS messaging), develop a similar technology and then miraculously their app is verified. I know this sounds very "but there really are UFOs!!" but lets not be naive.

    Why not just filter apps by amount of users and let the cream rise?
  • igniguy · 7 months ago
    because if you watch the 'most users' applications you will notice that, at least once a week, an application gets to the top by spamming, tricking and cheating its users in order to spread virally. The verification program will not suggest 'best apps' to people, it will merely certify that these apps are not spammy.

    now, in order to compensate these well-behaving apps for the loss of virality that they have to endure to pass the criteria of the verification program, facebook gives them prominent placement in the directory. I think it is a good move and i can only hope it does well
  • Robert Boyle · 7 months ago
    Well, I certainly hope it does well also.

    Your points are not bad, just short-sighted. Specifically, if you track the development of the social web you will find loads of instances in which security breaches, spam or worms develop when critical mass reaches an audience and dilutes the user pool which was previously made up of early adopters. This is obviously due to the fact that these practices are financially beneficial once a certain user threshold number is met.

    The good news is that, just as "spammy" technology develops, so does technology that deals with this technology. Interestingly enough this development also hinges upon an early adopter group, in this case early spamming/worming groups.

    Point being, instead of Facebook controlling apps and altering the landscape for success, they should allow their developers in the marketplace to deal with this issue -- and reap the profits of this development.

    That's just how the market works.

    |digitalzaar|
  • mark mayhew · 7 months ago
    I'm confused here, am I posting this using Twitter Connect, Facebook Connect (or both)?