#86 Black Hole of World Wide Web: Facebook Is Sucking The Internet In

When Zuckerberg said that “Facebook was not a created to be a company, but to accomplish a social mission”, little did people expect that in quest of the humane mission of ‘openness and connecting’, the social media platform would try and even succeed to some extent in engulfing the World Wide Web in itself.

PowerTech & Powertechmation: Facebook is fast becoming a one-stop store for all your needs of the Internet by assimilating everything into itself. Is Facebook really sucking the Internet – read more to find out.

Well, objectively it is not possible for any company even as big as Facebook to absorb the Internet, but, assimilating your favorites make it relatively easier. And after doing that, you are trapped in the indefinite Gen Jutsu of scrolling down and watching cats or conspiracy theories (whichever you like).

But the matter of fact is, you just can’t get out. When you have everything you like at one place, from numerous shopping stores to the latest gossip, logging out seems to land us in a predicament.

If you are skeptical about how Facebook is becoming the one stop store and sucking the Internet, then these facts would tell you the truth. The last thing Facebook wants you to do is sign out and here’s how it prevents that.

Targeted And Suggested Videos

The sole difference between YouTube and what Facebook is planning to do is: On YouTube you watch what you want to watch, On Facebook you will watch even if you don’t give a damn about it. And after you have watched one, Facebook will pamper you with more.

And with the current pace, Facebook’s strategy to topple 

YouTube’s video monopoly might win. On Jan 2015, Facebook video streams were watched over 4 billion times in a day.

Quick-Loaded Instant Articles and Instant Ads

If you like an article, there are chances that you might leave to the official website. Therefore, Facebook caches the articles for you and displays for the app users reducing the loading time. So, just read and come back.

Similarly, Facebook is relying on the fast load more click behavior of its users while displaying multi-media ads as well.

Add A Link Directly

Specifically targeted for its mobile users, Facebook has given the provision to ‘Add A Link’ directly while sharing. Facebook would use its own keyword search for the purpose. So, no more copy paste from other websites.

What’s Trending

Yes, Facebook also helps you in getting up to date. Why bother with news sites!

Shopping via Facebook

Most of our shopping knowledge and awareness is a gift from Facebook. New online stores with amazing offers and latest fashion trends. Well, now you get everything on the Dedicated Shopping Feed.

For the small businesses who can’t afford a pretty website, Facebook has created a Shop and Services section on their Facebook pages itself. So, if you like their product or services you can instantly opt for one. (Quite philanthropic..)

Facebook Doodle

You liked scribbling your photos on Snapchat, so Facebook gave you a dose of that as well.

Picture-In-Picture Video

Now, instead of links to YouTube for your favorite music, video, Facebook has offered a music label better deal for their videos and show them via the social media. Also, while you are watching, you can use picture-in-picture feature to create a new small tab for it or shrink it down and continue the scrolling. (Well, you must scroll!!)

Facebook Live

Live-streaming is fun, isn’t it. So, Facebook has brought “Live” streaming video feature which is exclusively meant for celebrities. 

Now, you can watch your favorite stars’ live broadcast in your news feed.

Hmm, now where did they get the hint from? Ever heard of Periscope and Meerkat.

Buy/Sell on Facebook

If you don’t trust strangers on, other such sites, maybe you would trust them more if they were on Facebook. A new feature was rolled out a few months back that allowed members of a Facebook Group to sell their items and making the deals easier.

Video Calling

You don’t need a hint for this one. Facebook has brought the free video calling feature to its messenger app and one thing is for sure, it would avoid the hassle for downloading other video chat apps.

M-Assistant

Another AI personal assistant in the competition now, Facebook’s M Assistant helps you easing your tasks. Siri, Cortana, are you hearing this?

Well, I don’t care, I want Jarvis! :p

On This Day

Facebook plans to make you nostalgic if you ever got bored anytime with the social media. The on this day feature will make you realize why Facebook is so special!

Pay Through Facebook

Splitting the bill was never so easy! Just go to the new and free friend to friend Payments in Messenger option, open your digital wallet and settle the deal with your friends. All Facebook asks is your credit card information.

GIF Messages

Emoticons, are the things of the past, GIFs are a new rage. Facebook has built a GIF browser and a search engine into its messenger. So, don’t just LOL, send something better.

Virtual Reality

“Virtual Reality is the obvious next step“- Zuckerberg, and Facebook has started taking small strides towards the future with its VR-style videos in the News Feed.

Now, it is not much as becoming the Internet rather than taking over it. Facebook is sucking the Internet by assimilating the best features of other ventures and immersing them into one single platform. Now, no doubt it is a brilliant business strategy, but it is choking out the competition and that is never a healthy scenario.

What is your opinion on the subject? Tell us in the comments below.

#78 How Much Does the Entire Internet Weigh?

The data we upload on the web, the information we share, the chats we do with our friends and every other key typed and every mouse click – everything makes the internet a more vast and complex place.

    PowerTech & Powertechmation: How much does the internet weigh? No more spoiler here. Read more and find out.

And, they also continue to make our internet a “heavier” place. So, how much does the internet weigh? How much would all the data on the internet at any one moment weigh?

I was watching random videos on YouTube and I came across this amazing video on Vsauce, a YouTube channel. The video describes and calculates the weight of the internet, after taking the inspiration from reports that indicate that each book loaded onto Amazon Kindle e-reader makes the tablet slightly heavier.

There are lots of theories on the internet that calculate the weight to be as small as a fat strawberry- and some claim it to be as light as a tiny grain of salt.

Using Einstein’s formula e=mc², Professor John Kubiatowicz, a computer scientist at the University of California, Berkeley, calculated that filling a 4GB Kindle would increase by 0.000000000000000001 grams.

The Internet runs on electrons and that’s how data is stored. These electrons weigh very less. To make an ordinary email of 50 KB, it takes about 8 billion electrons. This sounds like a big number, but it weighs just “two ten-thousandths of a quadrillionth of an ounce.”

In the video below, Vsauce explains how the entire internet weighs about 50 grams. These calculations are based on a decade-old data, but it gives us a rough idea. Every year, more and more servers are added, the internet gets a few grams heavier.

Watch it here:

Did you like this video? Have something to add? Tell us in the comments below.

Read more: How to Build Weather Satellite Images Receiver With $20 Dongle

#59 Internet.org is Now “Free Basics by Facebook”, Zuckerberg Launching “Special” Wi-Fi in India

The social networking website Facebook has struggled to create an environment of consensus among the masses for its free internet initiative Internet.org. The company has said that it is working on new ways to enhance the internet connectivity in India.

Along the similar lines, the company has renamed its controversial Internet.org app as Free Basics. With the help of its app, Facebook aims to provide certain free data services and websites to the mobile users.

A few months ago, amid widespread controversies, Facebook opened up the Internet.org platform to the developers. Currently, this moonshot project of Zuckerberg includes 60 new services focussed on productivity.

The new app Free Basics of Facebook is also equipped with stronger security measures and aims to get more users online all over the world.

“We’re making this change to better distinguish the Internet.org initiative from the programmes and services that Facebook provides, including Free Basics,” says Internet.org Vice-President Chris Daniels.

He adds, “Anyone currently using the app will be able to continue using the Android app though it will now be called Free Basics by Facebook in Google Play.”

The previous Internet.org web URL is now redirected to Freebasics.com.

In India, the social networking website is also piloting an Express WiFi service that will encourage the local entrepreneurs to set up WiFi hotspots in various areas.

“We help them in terms of technical solutions, business model and marketing,” said Munish Seth, Country Manager Facebook Connectivity Solutions India. Facebook has already set up such hotspots in partnership with ISPs in parts of Uttarakhand and Bangalore.

Are you excited to use these services? Tell us in the comments below.

Also read: http://powertechknowledge.blogspot.in/2015/09/55-stay-informed-stay-away-from.html

#50 Net Neutrality: DoT panel to submit report next month

The Indian government has hinted at supporting the net neutrality in India. However, a DoT panel will submit its report next month following which the government will take a final decision.

A telecom department panel will submit its recommendations on net neutrality next month, after which the government will take a final decision on the issue. The development comes amid heated debate over the net neutrality.

Interestingly, the government has come out in support for the net neutrality. Political leaders, including Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal and Telecom Minister Ravishankar Prasad have extended support to the net neutrality. Moreover, there's already online campaigns such as the saveinternet.org going on in support of net neutrality.

"We feel that the Internet is the creation of human mind. Internet should have linkages to the common man in a non-discriminatory manner,” Prasad is quoted as saying.

Here's a viral video in support of net neutrality:

Debate about net neutrality triggered in India after Airtel launched an Airtel Zero initiative that gave users free access to apps associated with the initiative – many believed the programme is against the concept net neutrality. Moreover, the telecom regulatory authority of India (TRAI) has already floated a consultation paper on the issue.

Even as the majority of netizens is supporting net neutrality, telecom operators have repeatedly pointed out the revenue losses they have suffered because of the OTT players. Airtel, however, has said in a detailed response how the Airtel Zero is not against the net neutrality. Here's the Airtel response on the issue.

Meanwhile, read our take on net neutrality - So, what's the deal with net neutrality? Also, check out a different take on issue by TeleAnalysis - An Analogy Why Net Neutrality, Airtel Zero Don't Cross Path.

#48 10 websites and applications you must know about

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