Business

The Facebook Effect: 8 key ideas

by David Kirkpatrick

The core ideas of The Facebook Effect, each in under a minute, written in our own words. Want the full depth? Get the book.

1. IDEA 1 OF 8

   A student built a social network

   Kirkpatrick describes how Mark Zuckerberg launched Thefacebook from his Harvard dormitory in 2004.

   The site spread rapidly among students, first at Harvard and then at other universities. Kirkpatrick explains that the idea started small and personal, but it caught on so fast that it soon moved beyond a single campus.

2. IDEA 2 OF 8

   Disputes followed success

   Kirkpatrick describes claims by the Winklevoss twins that Zuckerberg had stolen their idea.

   The dispute was later settled. In Kirkpatrick's account, the question of who came up with the idea became a long and public argument.

3. IDEA 3 OF 8

   Investors joined

   Kirkpatrick describes how figures like Sean Parker and Peter Thiel helped Facebook grow.

   Thiel made an early investment. In Kirkpatrick's account, these backers gave the young company money, advice and contacts that helped it grow beyond a student site.

4. IDEA 4 OF 8

   The company moved to California

   Zuckerberg and his team moved to Palo Alto, the heart of Silicon Valley.

   Facebook grew into a company. In Kirkpatrick's account, being close to engineers, investors and other startups made it easier to hire people and to grow quickly.

5. IDEA 5 OF 8

   News Feed changed the site

   Kirkpatrick describes the introduction of News Feed, which showed friends' updates.

   Users protested at first but came to depend on it. In Kirkpatrick's account, the change showed that people could object to a feature and still end up using it every day.

6. IDEA 6 OF 8

   Zuckerberg refused to sell

   Zuckerberg turned down offers to buy Facebook, including from Yahoo.

   He believed in its long-term potential. In Kirkpatrick's account, he wanted to keep building the company himself, instead of taking a quick payout from a larger firm.

7. IDEA 7 OF 8

   Privacy raised concerns

   Kirkpatrick describes debates over Facebook's privacy settings and data use.

   These issues grew with the company. In Kirkpatrick's account, people worried about who could see their personal information, and the company had to respond to these worries.

8. IDEA 8 OF 8

   Facebook changed society

   Kirkpatrick argues that Facebook changed how people communicate and share.

   Its effects reached politics and culture. Kirkpatrick suggests that a service used by hundreds of millions of people could alter how friends, news and ideas reach us.