Understanding How Facebook Disappeared from the Internet: In Online Ed, Content Is No Longer King—Cohorts Are

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Sep 27, 2023

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Understanding How Facebook Disappeared from the Internet: In Online Ed, Content Is No Longer King—Cohorts Are

The Internet is an intricate web of interconnected networks, and at the heart of it lies the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). BGP allows networks to exchange routing information, ensuring that routers know how to direct traffic. Without BGP, the Internet simply wouldn't work. It's like someone pulling the cables from data centers, disconnecting them from the rest of the online world. Facebook, one of the largest networks on the Internet, relies on BGP to advertise its presence to other networks. But what happens when Facebook suddenly disappears from the Internet?

One day, at 1658 UTC, it was noticed that Facebook had stopped announcing the routes to their DNS prefixes. This meant that Facebook's DNS servers were no longer accessible. Without these routes, Facebook effectively disconnected itself from the Internet. It was as if they had unplugged themselves from the online world. The withdrawal of routes meant that DNS resolvers, including ours and others', had no way to connect to Facebook's nameservers.

This incident highlights the critical role of BGP in keeping the Internet functioning. It is the glue that holds the network of networks together. Each network has an Autonomous System Number (ASN), which is a unique identifier. Every ASN needs to announce its prefix routes through BGP so that other networks know how to connect to them. Facebook's failure to announce its routes led to its sudden disappearance from the Internet.

While Facebook's incident is a unique case, it serves as a reminder of the importance of a stable and reliable BGP infrastructure. Network administrators must ensure that their routes are properly announced and that any issues are promptly addressed to prevent similar disruptions.

In the world of online education, content used to be king. With platforms like YouTube, blogs, and social media, educational content is abundant and easily accessible. However, the sheer volume of content has made it difficult for creators to stand out and monetize their expertise. Traditional social platforms often separate monetization activities from community building, forcing creators to seek alternative ways to capitalize on their content.

The rise of cohort-based courses (CBCs) has challenged the notion that content is king. CBCs are interactive online courses where a group of students progresses through the material together, with hands-on, feedback-based learning at the core. These courses offer what is scarce in today's content-rich world: community. Consumers are willing to pay for the sense of belonging and collaboration that CBCs provide.

MOOCs, on the other hand, offer recorded videos with a defined syllabus, but their completion rates are abysmally low, ranging from 3 to 6 percent. The lack of community and accountability in MOOCs contribute to this low completion rate. CBCs, with their live instruction, peer cohorts, and active learning, offer a more engaging and effective learning experience.

One of the key advantages of CBCs is the sense of accountability that comes with live, bi-directional learning. Students engage in interactive processing, which has been shown to improve comprehension and retention. By actively participating in discussions, role-playing, and debates, students can better grasp the material and learn from their peers.

Community building also plays a crucial role in improving learning outcomes. Studies have shown that collaboration among students leads to higher scores and better performance. The presence of others can unleash latent energy and motivation, pushing individuals to excel. CBCs bring the network benefits of startup accelerators to a wider market, fostering a sense of community and providing students with access to new ideas and exposure.

For creators, monetizing their expertise can be challenging, especially without existing followings or networks. Traditional social platforms often prioritize monetization activities over community building, making it difficult for creators to make a living solely from advertising revenue. This has led many creators to resort to brand partnerships or low-margin merchandise, detracting from community building.

CBCs offer creators a productized offering that provides leverage in terms of time and effort. Unlike constantly creating new content, running a cohort-based course allows creators to focus on delivering value to their students. The effort is front-loaded in building the course, while subsequent cohorts require less effort to maintain and update. Creators have more control over their income and can generate significant revenue compared to traditional content-based models.

In conclusion, the disappearance of Facebook from the Internet highlights the critical role of BGP in keeping the online world connected. It serves as a reminder of the importance of a stable and reliable infrastructure. In the realm of online education, the shift from content-based models to cohort-based courses emphasizes the value of community and hands-on learning. These courses offer a more engaging and effective learning experience, with higher completion rates and better learning outcomes. For creators, focusing on building a community and offering productized cohort-based courses can lead to greater financial success and impact.

Actionable Advice:

  • 1. Prioritize community building: Instead of solely focusing on content creation, invest time and effort in building a strong community around your expertise. Engage with your audience, foster collaboration, and create a sense of belonging.
  • 2. Consider cohort-based courses: Explore the potential of cohort-based courses as a means to monetize your expertise. By offering interactive, hands-on learning experiences, you can provide value to your students while generating sustainable income.
  • 3. Embrace active learning and accountability: Incorporate elements of active learning and accountability in your educational offerings. Encourage student participation, facilitate discussions, and provide feedback to enhance comprehension and retention.

By understanding the importance of stable infrastructure and embracing innovative approaches to online education, both individuals and organizations can thrive in the digital age.

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