Facebook Connect is a Big Deal
Before Facebook, I never used my real identity on the internet. I happily chatted as AIM user Ben5545 to my friends jmbails, fzhang001, and redsox84. Thinking back, it seems crazy that I felt compelled to create a new identity everytime I registered for an online service. More than the newsfeed, or the wall, or photo tagging, I think Facebook's most radical innovation was bringing authentic identity to the internet.
There are lots of services where authentic identity is missing. I hear pitches all the time about clever ways to improve online dating, blog comments, product reviews, and auctions. Many of these services would look very different if you introduced the accountability that comes with your real identity.
