Complex internet services fail in interesting ways as they grow in size and complexity. Twitter’s recent issues show how failures emerge slowly over time as relationships between components degrade. Meta’s quick launch of Threads demonstrates how platform investments can compound over time, allowing them to quickly build on existing infrastructure and expertise. While layoffs may be needed, companies must be strategic to maintain what matters most - the ability to navigate complex systems and deliver value. Twitter’s inability to ship new features shows they have lost this expertise, while Threads may out-execute them due to Meta’s platform advantages. The case of Twitter and Threads provides a lesson for companies on who they want to be during times of optimization.
People really treat these platforms like sports teams.
My giant megacorp owned by a billionaire is better than your giant megacorp owned by a billionaire.
My sports team owned by a giant megacorp is better than your sports team owned by Saudi oil billionaires!
“My Xbox/PlayStation is superior to your Xbox/PlayStation.”
True in society at large, but to be fair, I don’t think this post is trying to be “Team Threads” as much as it’s trying to point out the consequences of the very different decisions they made. And hopefully in the future, some stupid CEO will think twice when trying to implement shit like Elon Musk did.
I don’t believe threads was made in 3 months. I also think the scale of Facebook is insane compared to twitter they have a tech empire and can dump 20b into something and shrug it off when it fails. Facebook also still regularly lays off 1000s of staff including engineers.
Twitter is a platform that’s never made profit. I don’t think Twitter should have fired 90% of engineers but they definitely needed to lay off some percentage.
We are tribal animals and will do this with just about everything. See also: politics, religion, ancestry, food, computer platforms, smartphone platforms, clothing brands, astrological signs, science fiction franchises, choice of pet, which way the toilet paper goes, etc.
We need to redefine our tribes.
I treat them as sports teams insofar as I hope the stadium catches on fire and collapses on them both in the middle of the match.
Egging them both onto collapse is the only reasonable perspective