Filed under: Business, Developer, Internet, Features, Social Software, DLS Interviews
Interview with Facebook Senior Platform Manager
Dave Morin, Senior Platform Manager at Facebook, takes a moment out of his busy day to answers our questions regarding apps, the developer platform, and why everyone should be excited about the future of Facebook.DS: Can you briefly describe the Facebook Platform?
Dave: Facebook Platform is a development system that enables companies and developers to build applications for the Facebook website, where all of Facebook's nearly 29 million active users can interact with them. Facebook Platform offers deep integration into the Facebook website, distribution through the social graph and an opportunity to build a business.
DS: Why should average Facebook users be excited about Facebook apps and the Facebook Platform?
Dave: With Facebook Platform, users gain the ability to define their experience on Facebook by choosing applications that are useful and relevant to them. Now that they have access to a virtually limitless set of applications from outside developers, users have an unprecedented amount of choice. They can share information and communicate with their trusted connections in ways that would never have been possible before Facebook opened its platform.
DS: How quickly has the Facebook community adopted these new apps?
Dave: Since Facebook Platform launched on May 24, 2007, Facebook has grown from 24 million users to over 28 million users. Over 50% of our users have added at least one application.
DS: In what ways can an application spread through Facebook?
Dave: The main way that applications would spread on Facebook is virally. For instance, if users adds an application to their Facebook account, it could display on their Mini-Feed, generate a story in News Feed, or their friend could see it simply by viewing their profile pages. Users can also reference the Applications Directory to browse applications of interest. Developers are also permitted to purchase sponsored stories about their application which will then show up on News Feed.
DS: What type of applications have been successful so far?
Dave: So far, some of the most used applications are: Top Friends, iLIke, Fortune Cookie, Graffiti, Horoscopes, and Video, all have over 2.9 million users.
DS: What safeguards are in place to ensure quality for 3rd party applications and prevent abuse, theft of data, or other similar problems?
Dave: On Facebook, users are always in control of their information and can choose how much of their information is made available to specific applications. With Facebook Platform, we're offering additional privacy controls and requiring that third parties treat user information with the same respect we do-and our users have come to expect. Users can also choose to completely opt out of making their data available through Facebook Platform. Applications can never violate users' basic privacy settings and are meant to provide users with a better opportunity to share their information with their friends and networks.
DS: Can an application developer include advertising in their application? What about requesting donations or offering upgrades to premium versions of their service?
Dave: We want to enable developers to build a business on their Facebook applications, so we're giving developers the freedom to monetize their applications as they like. Developers can include advertising on their applications' canvas pages, though no advertising will be allowed within the application boxes that appear within user profiles.
DS: What technologies can developers use to create Facebook apps?
Dave: Facebook Platform offers several technologies that help developers use data from the social graph. In addition to the Facebook API, this recently launched version of Facebook Platform introduces Facebook Markup Language (FBML), which enables developers to build applications that deeply integrate into the Facebook site. Facebook Platform also includes Facebook Query Language (FQL), which lets developers use a SQL-style interface to query the data they can access through the API.
DS: Why should a developer consider building Facebook app instead of a standalone product?
Dave: The kinds of applications developers can build on Facebook Platform are limited only by their imaginations. Because applications are based on the Facebook social graph they can be more relevant to users, keeping people in touch with what and whom they care about. Deep integration with the site, mass distribution and new business opportunities, Facebook Platform empowers developers everywhere. It also lets developers monetize their applications as they like, whether they choose to offer it for free or build a business on their application.