This rumor is floating around on a number of web sites. Personally, I doubt it. Even so if you'd like to read the latest rumor sites, there are a number to choose from.
A couple sources quote anonymous sources, and Mashable has a lengthy write up at http://mashable.com/2008/08/21/mormon-facebook/ that analyzes the potential benefits for the church in acquiring a huge social network.
Other (similar) stories are available on WinExtra at http://mashable.com/2008/08/21/mormon-facebook/, The Industry Standard at http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/08/20/lds-church-rumored-have-offered-facebook and at VentureBeat at http://venturebeat.com/2008/08/20/rumor-from-the-news-doldrums-of-august-mormon-church-trying-to-buy-facebook/.
The argument being put forward by Mashable and others is that the church would acquire FaceBook in hopes of integrating FaceBook's technology into church operations. I have strong doubts, however.
The Mormon Church has announced that the New FamilySearch will eventually have some elements of social networking to simplify the process of distant relatives connecting online. However, the software involved won't be all that complicated. I don't see any advantage for the Church to spend millions of dollars purchasing FaceBook when the Church's programmers can "roll their own" for a lot less money.
KSL Television in Salt Lake City on Thursday reported that a church spokesperson said, "This rumor has no foundation whatsoever." Unfortunately, the newscast did not mention the spokesperson's name or provide any other details.
Do you have an opinion or any insight into these rumors? If so, please post your comments below in the Comments section.
There is no way this is true. First of all, FaceBook isn't worth millions, it's worth BILLIONS. The LDS isn't going to pay billions for that.
If anyone wants to bet money against this rumor, let me know.
Posted by: Steve | August 22, 2008 at 10:30 PM
I cannot begin to imagine why the Church would want to purchase Facebook. A simple social network for Church members wouldn't require all the bells, whistles, and code that make Facebook so popular. I think this is a virtual rumor.
Posted by: Margaret Harris | August 22, 2008 at 10:55 PM
If they need a social network they should just buy Geni.com, which would make a lot more sense (genealogical background, cheap start-up, etc.) Facebook has been rumored to be purchased by the likes of Google and Microsoft. I doubt LDS has the cash to make such a transaction.
Posted by: Abba-Dad | August 22, 2008 at 10:59 PM
This is such an inane story, it's disappointing and even disturbing that this newsletter would even 1) pay attention to it and actually research the Net chatter, and 2) waste electrons in writing something up on the topic. Focus on genealogy, not pop culture.
Posted by: Comstone C | August 23, 2008 at 09:01 AM
I feel compelled to begin by stating I am NOT Mormon. I have had extensive dealings with the Church in a number of capacities, including as a vendor to it. I also have quite a few friends who are Mormon, one of whom lost a job and when found another when someone in his local stake made a few calls to see if anyone had a job available. Thus, I have every reason to believe that when the Church wishes to acquire a product or service it will go outside its membership only when the same is not available from a member, not simply because it may be cheaper to go to a member first, but also because it reenforces the mission of the Church to instill a sense of community among its members. Accordingly, for the Mormon Church to buy FaceBook would be a direct contradiction of what I have come to understand about its "persona".
Posted by: Michael Pollock | August 23, 2008 at 09:35 AM
I wonder how many members of Facebook are LDS?
Posted by: Brooke | August 23, 2008 at 12:37 PM
I agree with Michael Pollock. Facebook seems outside the Church's mission, regardless of its popularity. Based on some things (neither virtuous nor praiseworthy) I've seen on Facebook, I'd not think the LDS church would be interested.
Happy Dae.
http://www.ShoeStringGenealogy.com
Posted by: Dae Powell | August 23, 2008 at 03:41 PM
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=4070673
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=4070673
the rumor started in one blog in northern California. Nothing more.
Facebook - if it was to be acquired - would face massive cleanup to purge millions of lurking sex predators, inappropriate contents, and much more just to bring it into the compliance of the LDS Church standards.
Posted by: W. David Samuelsen | August 25, 2008 at 03:12 AM
'Millions of lurking sex predators'?
The church clearly has no interest in Facebook for most of the reasons stated, however 'millions' of sexual predators could not be one of them; it is simply not true. Facebook is fairly well regulated and has not attracted this type of crowd in any strong degree. Certainly not in numbers that outreach the general population of 'lurking sexual predators' known to exist outside of Facebook (two hundred thousand in the worst-case scenario).
On second thought; If Facebook could only be worth mere 'millions', I suppose it could contain 'millions' of lurking sexual predators, too.
The rumor is as ridiculous as the numbers flying around in the feedback.
Posted by: Cary Snowden | August 25, 2008 at 03:57 AM