The internet is a great big race to free. Anyone who has built a business model with a price above free for something that can be free is in a tough strategic position. So how do you get to free first?
Facebook didn't translate its own Spanish and German versions: it created a platform for translation and handed the task to its users, who did the work for free.
Networks are built atop platforms. A platform enables. It helps build value. If it is open and collaborative, those users may in turn add value to the platforms.