Facebook's plan to create a 'fake and then real' app has sparked controversy. The company wants to make a clone of Polymarket, a platform that allows users to bet on various outcomes. Facebook's goal is to create an engagement mechanism that will keep users hooked. The company believes that people will be drawn to the app's gamified features, which will encourage them to spend more time on the platform.
Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's CEO, has a history of identifying emerging engagement mechanics. He famously stated that every generation has a new engagement mechanic that disrupts the old one. For example, photo sharing was the mechanic that helped Facebook gain popularity, and Instagram's acquisition was necessary to stay ahead of the curve. However, launching new ideas is a different story. Facebook has struggled to innovate in this area, and its attempts to create new interaction paradigms, such as AI glasses and interaction UI, have been met with skepticism.
The implication of Facebook's decision is that the next big engagement mechanic is likely to be gambling. The company has sufficient data to understand how users transition from messaging apps to gambling platforms, such as FanDuel. By incorporating a gambling mechanic into its app, Facebook can capitalize on this trend and increase user engagement. However, some critics argue that this approach is problematic, as it can lead to addiction and other negative consequences.
