If done correctly, this could be a very interesting little battle. Especially since Facebook looks like they are moving into email as well.

Ah, what fun

I have also stated in my post that Facebook has already won the social war. Whether it succeeds in relegating Google to obscurity is another story, which we need to wait and see. But I don't think it will.

I know I keep up with a lot of my friends, especially ones from out of town using Facebook. I have a much deeper dependance on Facebook than I think many people did when it came to Geocities and various other popular networks “back in the day.”

Correct me if I am wrong though, not like I was really active back in Geocities hayday lol

Thanks for sharing the perceptions among the younger generation. I fully agree that it is the case. However, I don't agree that that perception is to be given more weight.

Those who used the web before the dot com boom and bust cycle know how things can change rapidly. There was a time when Yahoo=Search, and Geocities & Tripod were to us folks, what Facebook is to you, at present.

This is just a “want” though and I highly doubt it will happen.

Facebook is ingrained in our lives when it comes to connecting with friends, more so than I think you realize.

Since I am still in High School and obviously have friends, often times when I take a picture with a friend they will say, “Yo, tag that” or “Bro, Facebook that.”

It is just as common amongst people my age who say Google it.

Facebook DOMINATES the social image, much like Google dominates the image of search. This is a hinderence for both companies since Facebook has a ton of data just waiting to be mined and Google already is great at mining tons of data but will kill to be more social.

What it comes down to is our perceptions, and not your perception, Mahendra. Or even Robert's, Marshall's and Louis. It comes down to the current 21 year olds and younger and right now their perception is:

Facebook = Social

Google = Search

and that's not changing ANYTIME soon.

Bummer for both of them, I guess

1. All browsers have 1 homepage.
2. All browsers have 1 'default' search engine.
3. Most mobile browsers have 1 tab, so you browse a single site at a time.
4. Many tablets will support browsing only a single site at a time.

Since the 'news feed' or 'stream based flow' is becoming de-facto in social networks, it will indeed be interesting if Google comes up with something similar (as Scoble says he is hearing from Googlers).