Google started as a research project at Stanford called Backrub, and when Larry Page and Sergey Brin tried to sell it to big internet companies, they were rejected because no one thought search was important.

FriendFeed generated a lot of buzz but struggled to grow because we competed with Facebook, which became a formidable competitor.

I was initially more concerned about competition from Microsoft and Bing chat rather than Google, as I believed our product addressed a unique need.

Myspace could have survived if it had focused on the fundamental need for social connection rather than trying to copy Facebook.

Eventually, I gathered support from engineers who wanted to build Google Photos instead of the assigned social network, despite our bosses' explicit instructions not to pursue it.

Facebook understood that the most important feature of a social network is having your friends there, which creates a tension between individual and network needs.

I realized that Facebook was an unstoppable force in social networking, and that competing with them was a significant challenge.

Even if a university had built a social network, Facebook's ability to allow users to share more content and connect in meaningful ways would have set it apart and driven its success.

Facebook's success stemmed from its emphasis on real identity and the ability for users to share their content, which was missing from other platforms at the time.