This is a false narrative.

Facebook better optimized for the fact that most people are too stupid to avoid using full-page background images and auto-playing music.

I thought it was a lot cooler back then. People got their own customized little places about themselves, maybe with some fun media playing. Now it's all boring and sterilized.

It was a blessing and a curse.

The internet in general is probably "better designed" now, but also way more homogenized and boring.

>was dumbed down for mass appeal so it won out?

thats usually how it works

Yes, I just don't think the analogy worked very well.