Ask HN: How to convince someone that building a Facebook killer is a bad idea?

by smallegan on 9/6/2010, 6:07 PM with 5 comments

I have a friend who is set on building a better Facebook. I've tried explaining that getting Millions of people to switch seems unreasonable but he continues on.

How do I convince him that this is a battle he isn't going to win....or should I?

  • by protomyth on 9/6/2010, 6:44 PM

    You should probably use the same tactics that were used to prevent people from building a MySpace killer. :)

  • by ladeniran on 9/6/2010, 6:20 PM

    Sometimes it's better to let things be...Facebook is far from perfect and while your friends idea seems impossible he just might end up carving up a niche service...not necessarily a Facebook takeover but something that delivers stuff people will find attractive.

  • by josefresco on 9/7/2010, 2:59 PM

    Instead of telling him "you can't do this", try to be positive and give him advice that may help him succeed. Have him consider a niche, angle or feature set that separates his offering from FB.

  • by code177 on 9/6/2010, 9:11 PM

    For what reasons would you want to stop him from doing this?