It looks like Facebook, a notoriously closed and controlled social network from none other than a Harvard student, is thinking of opening up. For those unaware, Facebook is the de facto standard for online interaction and showmanship between college students. I’d point to the Wall Street Journal article that started all the buzz, but there’s no use: It’s behind a paywall.

Facebook can almost be classified as the antithesis of MySpace. Where MySpace is open, Facebook is closed. Where MySpace allows third party widgets, Facebook does not. Where MySpace allows page customization, Facebook comes at you with a white blank stare. Yet, Facebook has flourished and in a very big way.

It’s the network, stupid.

* 85% of all students in supported colleges are enrolled in Facebook.

* 60% of those who are signed up, log in daily.

* Facebook turned down a supposed $1.6bb offer from Yahoo.

In any case, I’ve been saying for a while that Facebook needs to open up to third parties and it looks like it’s set to announce something along those lines on Thursday. Yet, I expect that the announcement will not be typical and we’ll see an interesting curve.

* Direct integration for buying and selling?

* Classifieds, auctions, barter?

* Ability to customize your Facebook experience with Facebook layouts?

* Continued inability to put independent third-party widgets on your profile? (Now, that would be a surprise!)

* API for tools behind the Facebook security fence?

Sounds like Facebook is moving towards the Amazon mantra.

Save the platform. Save the world.