I agree, mobile will be a big opportunity for FB when it figures out how to monetize it. I thought the metaphor was apt though because as it stands now the closer it Facebook gets to mobile the weaker it becomes financially.

As for the voting control, I’m just leaving open all possibilities. I shares Zuckerberg controls are sold, he loses their votes, though his control won’ be diluted that much since they revert to Class B shares. It is a possibility that everyone cashes in and he loses voting control, isn’t it?

And, “…while it will be likely be controlled by Zuckerberg and those loyal to him” Likely? What would change the fact that he controls 57% of the voting stock?

Whatever long term strategy they adopt they need to allow people access to AD-free mobile use if they want to pay for it. Whether that is $.99 a pop for the AD free version of the app or a “premium” account subscription that means no adds on mobile and maybe some other extra features. People are used to this now with many other apps and don’t mind dropping a small amount for a clutter free experience.

Social networks are becoming a top source of referral business – far more than ad-banner clicks. If done correctly – in a way that doesn’t compete or interfere with the way that individual FB users right now are already using the platform to promote themselves, their own influence, and their own offerings – Facebook could help third parties to get the referral business they so desire from all social networks, by making facilitating that connection and possible referral/revenue sharing arrangements between users’ News Feeds and Pages, and selected vendors with an interesting offer or promotion.

In other words, FB should enable users themselves to be the marketplace for third-party promotions, able to select (with some OpenGraph help and recommendations) vendors and offers they feel comfortable sharing with their personal network.

Yes, it’s Facebook’s network, and Facebook could do whatever they want. But if FB wants to monetize any mobile, and further desktop usage, they need to understand that empowerment of users is the best path to success (and in fact has been key to FB’s success so far).