Two Observations on FaceBook

I gave in and joined FaceBook last week, then spent the last half hour tweaking out my profile page. Two points come to mind:

1. Everything they say is true about how powerful and cool the framework is. By enabling developers to create tools within a giant social network they’ve essentially cornered the market for user interest. Why would someone join a social network that didn’t have that built in developer marketplace with all of the widgets and customization? And how much work will it be for a new social network to attract all those developers without the reach FaceBook brings to the table?

2. Every ad I saw in a half hour of browsing was either remnant untargeted crap, or an Ad Council public service banner.