So since we are talking about fads and how they come in and are so sensational, then they leave. Some of them even make us think they might always be around, like Bell Bottom jeans (remember those?). But like all fads, some with longer lives than others, eventually our fascination with them wears off. Or something new and even cooler (if that were ever possible) comes along and takes it's place.
Before Facebook there was Myspace, and some others, but the whole concept has really taken off. Then came Facebook. Little known, simple place to say your thoughts and read others. Now it has become the Ma Bell of the current age. Why even Bell telephones foundations are shaking over the possibility to now communicate sight and sound on Facebook video chat. That's very cool, but if you are Bell, or Myspace or Kodak, wow, the future is not always so certain.
Have you ever recently while on Facebook thought to yourself, "hmmm, this is getting boring"? And then slapped yourself on the face and told yourself to wake up, it's FACEBOOK after all!
The real red flag for me was the recent announcement that Facebook is going public, and soon. That says two things to me: 1) they want to get bigger and need the capital. 2) the original shareholders want what's coming to them now before the whole thing becomes unpopular and interest starts to decline taking their profits with it.
In my former years in the Stock market I learned that corporate executives usually don't stay with the ship when it goes down, no, the do a Costa Concordia. They are usually on the first lifeboat they can find, to heck with the passengers.
Would I buy stock in Facebook? No. Not now. Even though there is clearly still an upside to it's growth. My guess is you will be left holding the bag. The right time to buy Facebook shares was last year, or last month, or last week, but now that the news is out, uh uh sailor.
Watch for the next cool thing to hit the communications world.