Facebook won’t rule the internet until it’s business time

COMMENT Let's be honest about this: Facebook is just one big online playground.

For the most part, you go on there to chat and to play. Of course, with Mark Zuckerburg's announcements this week you'll be able to do a bit more.

With the additions of Spotify and movie-playing facilities, it's just become an even more enjoyable playground to hang around in.

We're just waiting for Zuckerburg to take the stage during a future f8 and utter the words: 'It's business time.'

It is not a place to do business. Companies do not go on the site to interact with other firms. Not just yet anyway. Facebook knows it and seems content with the status quo in that respect.

Yet it seems Facebook is trying to suck up the most popular services on the internet and become the ruler of the whole darn thing. By integrating everything people use into one place, there's no reason to go anywhere other than Facebook for many people, at least.

Heading onto my Facebook account today, I was asked if I wanted to download the Guardian's new Facebook app. I did and then happily read an article within my account. At the same time, I could continue beating my boss' mum at Scrabble (it's for charity, so it's OK) whilst posting inane things on my wall. I'll be listening to tunes on the site soon, along with millions of others doing exactly the same.

Facebook doesn't want people to leave. And it's already succeeding.

The work/life balance

Yet if it wants to become the feudal lord of the internet domain, Facebook will need to more openly welcome business activity too.

For starters, that's where it will be able to make more cash. Advertising to businesses, as IT Pro knows all too well, is a good way of earning some pennies.

But a big draw for Zuckerburg and Co to cater more to businesses will derive from a desire to beat its biggest rival: Google+.

Google has done something smart in its early stages it has set a boundary between its consumer social network and its business version, which companies were invited to trial over the summer. Through this demarcation, Larry Page's firm has made Google+ into an attractive proposition for both the average Joe and Mr Busy Body.

In doing so, Google will not scare away consumers who want to switch off when social networking. At the same time, it means workers will head to the business-focused site during work hours.

For Google, that means more time spent on Google+ and more advertising revenues. Furthermore, it will draw more advertisers from the enterprise realm. It's a win-win situation.

It may even make life for IT easier, as they will know where most company data is being shared. Of course, that relies on people only using their personal account for solely personal reasons. That's a tad tricky to control.

Nevertheless, Facebook would be wise to imitate Google here. It will be difficult for it to find that work/life separation. It will require some heavy site re-architecture, as well as a big marketing drive to convince people it's enterprise ready.

But if it does, and becomes a valuable meeting place for businesses as well as the general public, it really will rule the internet.

We're just waiting for Zuckerburg to take the stage during a future f8 and utter the words: "It's business time."