The internet has made it easier that ever to perform due diligence. In theory that should make the extinction of flaw products and services more likely. That conventional wisdom may be flawed. While instant communication and collaboration can help identify and rectify flaws, and ultimately kill bad products, it can also perpetuate them. In fact, the power of the clique can overcome even the worst of flaws. Sound far fetched? Today’s news feed has two very good examples.

Consider Facebook. As the world’s top  social networking site, membership is nearly compulsive as friends and family made it the center of communication. Even recurring problems securing users data, along with aggressive monetization of user data with blatant disregard for privacy haven’t slowed user growth. In fact Facebook is expected to reach 500 million members within days.

Then lets take the iPhone. Now in it’s fourth incarnation, the cute factor initially overcame annoyances like a proprietary headphone, a non replaceable battery, and being forced to pay upscale rates to AT&T for iffy service. In fact, recurring issues with the hardware itself and inconsistent service would have killed any less clique-ish device. Response to complaints has typically been snarky with half fixes like the one for antenna problems in the new model. Never the less, the iPhone clique keeps growing.

Could it be you d0n’t have to build a better mouse trap to succeed as long as you can build a cult around a bad one?

MySpace will axe 2/3rds of its international workforce. Some 300 employees to get the pink slip. They say it gets darkest right before everything goes black. –

The social networking site, which is a division of News Corporation, parent company of The Times, will close offices in at least four countries and cut 300 jobs. The UK is the company’s biggest base out side of the US. Though dozens of British jobs may be at risk, it is thought most of the cuts will be made elsewhere.

The move comes a week after the social networking site cut more than 400 jobs in the US — or 30 per cent of its American workforce.

Owen Van Natta, the chief executive, said: “As we conducted our review of the company, it was clear that internationally, just as in the US, MySpace’s staffing had become too big and cumbersome to be sustainable in current market conditions.”

The former Facebook executive became the chief executive of MySpace when Chris DeWolfe, the former chief executive and co-founder, stepped down two months ago.

Linky.

For some, 123people.com provides a new tool for re-establishing lost connections or making contact with new clients or colleagues. It also signals a further erosion in any perceived privacy of information  on the net as it brings a deeper search into personal info to the masses.

“After months of private beta tweaking and adding new features to improve the high powered people search, 123 People launches to the US public,” the European-based website announced in a blog posting at 123people.com.

123 People collects publicly available information about people from social network profiles, blog entries, news articles and other sources and displays links, pictures, videos, email addresses and phone numbers.

The first and last name of the person the user is seeking information about is entered into a search box on the 123people.com home page. The results are displayed on a single web page. (Yahoo)

The duality of good technology is that while it provides tools to expand the capabilities of the individual for the greater good, as well as better enabling those who wish to do harm. If you value your privacy, it behooves you to be ever vigilant in what you place in public or even semi-public view. Best practice: never assume anything you post or upload will be private, or that it will be used by others in your best interest.