Murphy's Law: Give me a Face-Break
PrintLordy. It's hard to spend but a week surfing the Internet without seeing a group of people getting caught up in a situation that they've volunteered themselves into. And it would be remiss of me to go a single sentence further without mentioning the latest elephant in the room--Facebook.
I can't log into Facebook without seeing a growing number of my friends joining those silly little, "Facebook is opening up my entire life and I wish it was like it was back in 2005" groups/fan pages/whatever we're calling them now. But Dave's Comrades aren't the only ones joining in on the fun--tech pundits Jason Calacanis and Peter Rojas, amongst others, are nuking their accounts in protest as well! It's a Facebook meltdown!
Unlike the open-source world, where the concept of "something for nothing" is pretty widely understood and accepted--even by those that just download away and never contribute a single iota of code or absent thought to an application's development--the general Internet populace seems pretty peeved at an otherwise free service's attempts to branch out its offerings. This, in turn, leads to a stronger advertising platform and/or additional service expansions, but mainly the former. Facebook ain't charity, after all--the company has human overhead and server costs, to name a few, and it's not as if every status update magically conjures up a shiny nickel for Mark Zuckerberg.
Privacy is an important function of everyday Internet life. I don't really want my friends, coworkers, and business associates knowing all that I do on the Web (it's safe for work, I promise). However, it's not as if Google Chome itself is transmitting this information. For the benefit of having a number of my friendships and acquaintances in one central, easy-to-access-location, it's only fair that said service--Facebook--be allowed to monetize its platform in some way related to the information I choose to input into the service.
Now, the argument can be made that Facebook's latest additions--the increased information its sharing with third-party providers, if not the public at large--aren't exactly the most well-thought-out of changes. And judging by the litany of, "how to privatize your Facebook, no really" articles I've seen lately, it's not as if the company has truly had the best interests of its users at heart in its quest to tangentially expand its user base and bank account.
But here's the deal: Users voluntarily opt into Facebook. The cost, to you, is zero. Furthermore, a number of Facebook's privacy quirks are elements that you, yourself, control. A large chunk of Facebook's latest "Open Graph" concept revolves around the premise of you "liking" things you see on the Web. These objects, in turn, get automatically slapped into your profile--as well, logging into a site using your Facebook credentials opens up parts of your profile for marketing and advertising use by said entity.
The simple solution? Use Facebook for Facebook: Don't use the site as a quick intermediary for accessing other sites. Don't upload elements you wouldn't otherwise want to show or shout to the world. And, for Heaven's sake, don't click "Like" on anything. I can't stress this enough: The Internet only knows the information you choose to show it.
Can you really fault a company for trying to monetize open data? I suppose so, especially when information that was once private suddenly becomes open to the world at-large. But it's up to users to stay on the cutting edge of whether their less-than-savory status updates are suddenly Google fodder--especially when the service they're using to throw their lifestyles into the digital ether is... completely... free.
You're not so much biting the hand that feeds you when you give Facebook the information it uses to hack you off; At the very least, however, you should be ready to dodge the next, perceived Facebook slap to privacy before it stings you right in the face. Their court; their rules--it's just a shame that so many people are abandoning years' worth of memories instead of stepping up and controlling their own digital destinies. I'll miss my departing Facebook friends; I'll miss their shared memories of our college lives even more.
David Murphy (@ Acererak) is a technology journalist and former Maximum PC editor. He writes weekly columns about the wide world of open-source as well as weekly roundups of awesome, freebie software.
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domih2009
May 21, 2010 at 1:10pm
Commercial social networking web sites (i.e. Facebook) are the place where the user "is" the product.
If you do not want to become a product, do not use them.
Period.
mls067
May 21, 2010 at 7:36pm
I hope you don't mind, I made that my status message on FB.rofl!
ironic isn't it
great message btw
cynical
May 21, 2010 at 10:25am
My only complaint about Facebook is how they went and reverted a bunch of my privacy settings back to public viewing. I know I had my profile setup to only be viewed by my friends and friends of friends. When all this privacy stuff hit the news, I went and checked my settings and found everything opened back up to the public. What's the point of having privacy settings if they're just going to revert them back to open as soon as you're not looking.
JonPhillips
May 21, 2010 at 10:04am
I generally agree with Murph's 'You opted in, so quit complaining" argument. I'll only add that it is up to content providers (like maximumpc.com!) to be cautious in how they integrate FB modules, lest they too suffer the FB backlash. While we are thinking of exposing a "like" button above articles, I'm against adding the "Friend's Activity" module that, for example, is currently on the front page of CNN.com. See, I'm not a Facebook junkie. I barely use it. It's more of a business/networking tool for me. I don't give jack about all my "friends" breakfast-eating decisions, or when they've become "mayor" of some bar. And the last thing I want is to see these all this nonsense on other websites -- websites I actually use. FB needs to stay on FB, and stop trying to manifest itself everywhere.
blkpanthr
May 21, 2010 at 10:01am
Welcome to the information age.
information IS the new business model
if you cant deal with it, move to bora-bora and live under a rock.
privacy policy for life: If you don't want people to know, keep your pie-hole shut
PawBear
May 21, 2010 at 9:53am
There are real lives and real jobs of users at stake here. There is NO excuse for any responsible business to put so much on the line to further their interests. I can't think of anything better than FB being revealed for the sham it is. Anyone with any rational concerns for their own safety will stop using it or start an anonymous profile as I did.
It's also not a bad idea to do anymous google searches either.
*** "Either we conform the Truth to our desires or we conform our desires to the Truth." ***
blkpanthr
May 21, 2010 at 10:37am
If your job is at stake, you should not have a facebook account, or know better than to post stuff that will get u canned.
again, common sense.
When i am looking to hire someone, after their first interview, the first thing id do is search for their facebook/myspace/bebo/whatever account and see if they are a retard.
If i find something embarrassing, or stupid, i have to assume they have poor decision making skills.
not for the act itself, but for the fact that they posted it for eveyone to see.
If i can find it, my customers can too and that may effect my bottom line.
i have zero tolerance for people who refuse to take responsibility for being a dumb-ass, and try to blame someone else.
kw13tl33tg33k
May 21, 2010 at 9:36am
I too have posted many links andarticles about fb privacy and of course hot to properly lock fb down but not one link clicked otr like status..but my links to unsubstantiated rumers about lebron james mom gets clicked all the time..whats that they say about the masses and sheep?
oihorse
May 21, 2010 at 9:33am
Facebook is opt-in to the point where you sign-up for the service.
After that it's been a circus of opt-out intrusions, of turning once secure and private information public without permission.
It's been a bait and switch of services, a jumbled mess of permissions that even experienced users are having trouble figuring out - much less someone's mom.
Facebook has clearly earned the rebuke coming to them.
The faulty logic of, "but look at what Google does", can in no way justify the continuing errosion of trust Zuckerburg has employed in his software
The real tradgedy here is that people that know better didn't push back harder years ago. For two years I've been listening to warnings that your information was locked into Facebook. That it was near impossible to get that information out. With the rate that Facebook is shutting down info back-up services it won't be very long before its impossible to pull your info out intact.
People shouldn't have to abandon years's worth of memories in the same way Zuckerburg shouldn't be building an elaborate labyrinth that makes it near impossible for the best of us to 'control their digital destinies'.
However, what is done is done, and the time is ripe for someone to stand-up something better, more open and more data-transportable. Bring it on!
Biceps
May 21, 2010 at 10:32am
Ok, well then how is that going to be paid for? Who is going to pay for the staff, the security features, fixing bugs quickly, who is going to pay for the servers??
Murph is correct one the most important point: Facebook is FREE to you. It is entirely possible to protect your privacy on Facebook... just pay attention to the fact that it is opt-out.
The argument that Facebook should be more ethical is really nice. Modern corporations are not nice; nice guys finish last, as they say. Nice companies finish WAAAY last. If Mr. Z wants Facebook to really start making some $$, he is going to have to monetize their business model. Period.
The only way to keep Facebook from sharing your info in the long run would be to provide them with a more effective business model. Would a subscription-based model work? Would inserting video-commercials every 5 minutes provide enough revenue? Coming up with revenue-generating alternatives is the only way that you are going to see an alternative to Facebook's current strategy that is palatable to Facebook.
Love it or leave it... and if you love it, keep a close eye on your privacy settings.
oihorse
May 21, 2010 at 11:17am
If Facebook cannot figure out a way to monetize their product without angering their users with bait-and-switch security and privacy manouvers then it's their loss.
Fooling users into making data public is an insane monetizing policy - and this is exactly what they are doing. People should be pissed and should be leaving with that kind of product offer.
It's not our job to provide Facebook with a more effective business model any more than it is an ISP, the government, or Customs Agent's job to provide a business model for the RIAA or MPAA.
Biceps
May 21, 2010 at 11:27am
If you have a problem with the way the current model works, then instead of complaining about it like a child, you could *gasp!* offer some reasonable alternatives. If your sole purpose is to whine, then I guess an internet forum would be the right place for that. Pardon me then.
Look, the current has been Facebook's business model almost from Day One, most likely. And you and everyone else who has a Facebook account did buy into it by creating and nurturing an account (and your crops on Farmville).
If you want to buy-out of it, then do by all means cancel and delete your account along with 10,000 other people. At the end of the day, the defections will probably be significant in number, but barely so... Facebook will be back up to their prior numbers in a matter of days. In business, we call that a hiccup.
Why will it happen this way? Because the service that Facebook provides is valuable to the users, and most people will either figure out how to protect themselves or just plainly don't care enough to bother. And if they don't care, then how is it an issue?
B10H4Z4RD
May 21, 2010 at 9:14am
as i was reading this, two spam phone calls called me. guess who forgot his cell was on facebook?
I am still ashamed that I have a facebook. I'm not proud of it. However, come may 30th....buh bye every friend i never talk to, every group i regret joining, every sexy singles website i'll never visit.
______________________________________________________________________
On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero. Chuck Palahniuk, FIght Club.
blkpanthr
May 21, 2010 at 8:39am
I have to agree with Murph on this one.
People get so used to free crap that they forget that Facebook is a company, and just like any other for profit company, they are out to make a profit. Advertizing, and datamining is where the money is.
We Americans love our Righteous Indignation. What? they are using the information i gave them to make a profit? for shame!!!
If you don't like that, don't use Facebook, or any other service that is advertising funded.
Transparent business model? are you serious? no for-profit company in the WORLD is going to give away thier business model for every Tom, Dick, and Harry to try to copy.
People need to use a little common sense.
privacy policy for life: If you dont want people to know, keep your pie-hole shut.
razorpetti37
May 21, 2010 at 8:30am
I hate to join the masses of complainers, but I really do miss the old days of Facebook. I was a freshman in college when Facebook first started gaining popularity and at first, passed it off as a MySpace wanna be. But then I realized it was limited to only my college peers, thus blocking a majority of creepers and spammers floating around the web. Times were good....there was little hesitation in posting embarrassing photos for your friends to laugh at, pictures of keggars, and raunchy quotes.
Then came D-Day for Facebook....it suddenly was opened to anyone on the web, regardless of age or legit email address. Relatives, teachers, employers, etc. all started to join and the security of knowing only your peers were viewing your content was eliminated. Offensive quotes, pictures, etc. were taken down by anyone with hopes of securing a job after college. Then came the hoard of "extras". New games, applications, ninja fights, electronic gifts, etc. began crowding the facebook pages as well as the ads lining the sides of every page. I've even been getting friend requests lately from random people in other states. Why would I want to add a "friend" who is 45 year old from New Jersey and is randomly just adding people. Now, with all of the privacy issues, the amount of interesting information actually posted is being reduced everyday. Everyone is leery of posting anything they don't want viewed by the entire world population. One of the other comments on this article proves my point. The author of the comment has a Facebook account that literally has no information that connects his true identity to the account. So what is the point of having an account in the first place?
Facebook went from a place to share good times and connect with old and new friends to a website with no purpose. Sure, you can share photos with friends and family, but you can do that on hundreds of other photo sharing sites. Besides that, Facebook is dwindling in its usefulness.
bloodgain
May 22, 2010 at 11:05pm
Quote: "the amount of interesting information actually posted is being reduced
everyday"If your definition of "interesting information" is "embarrassing photos for your friends to laugh at, pictures of keggars,
and raunchy quotes" then hallelujah for that! For the record, I do have some friends on Facebook that post similar worthless items, but I have a limit on how much of that I'll stand, and generally only from very old friends.The usefulness of Facebook is up to the opinion of the user, and depends largely on how they utilize its features. You say you can "share photos... on hundreds of other photo sharing sites," but how many of those sites let you share both photos and information in one place, using an application that is pervasive enough to have a custom-built application for almost every mobile internet device. Most people don't carry around dedicated cameras, but most carry around phones with cameras, and can upload directly to FB. One might argue that we are getting a lot more useless pictures than we used to, but one could also argue that we are capturing more of our world (and more realistically) than ever before. I, for one, would much rather hear about a relative or old friend who got a promotion or is buying a house than some old flunk-out frat buddy still hasn't outgrown his college days and got so drunk he puked in his parents' swimming pool again. Sure, I have to see a lot of worthless chatter, but some of it is entertaining -- and I've ignored and unfriended several very annoying people.
I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm just saying you're not right for everybody -- it's all a matter of different opinions. Obviously you're in the minority, because Facebook is much more popular this way, privacy issues aside.
highsidednb
May 21, 2010 at 7:49am
Murph's perspective would be ok with me if Facebook had a history of being open and honest with their practices. It would also be a good opinion article if Facebook was completely transparent with their mission and business model. Facebook is not. Of course, consumers need to be more careful and they need to educate themselves, but Facebook is ultimately a dishonest company run by a crook (see latest securities fraud allegations.)
From the second anyone decides to sign up for the site, Facebook should tell people "Your data is being collected for the purpose of selling it to other companies. We are simply a giant data mine build on the sad premise that online interaction can replace human contact and civic participation. Thank you, now go back to your cage and have a food pellet."
lostcause64
May 21, 2010 at 7:00am
Facebook, or any website for that matter, only has the power or info you give it. Like anything else, if people are involved, there will be problem sooner or later, no matter how well intentioned or trained. If you don't want people to know something about you or your habits, don't make it available to FB. It's the same mentality for preventing virus/malware infections on your pc... Pay attention to what you are doing up there and where you go. Or, don't start none, won't be none.
John
Have you ever wondered why intelligence can normally be found in an individual, but runs screaming in terror from a group? Though, there are exceptions...
gendoikari1
May 21, 2010 at 6:33am
I have Facebook under a fake name, with a fake hometown and a fake DOB. The account is connected to one of my disposable e-mail accounts, instead of my normal one. Also, I don't press "Like" on anything that would potentially be embarrassing/incriminating in the future. Even though I have open privacy settings only friends know who "John Smith" really is.
SPAM FILTER MUST DIE
Lummoxx
May 21, 2010 at 6:25am
I bet the vast majority hit the Join button on these groups, and then go back to Farmville, or whatever the game of the day is on FB, and don't give privacy a second thought.
It's interesting to note that, my recent FB updates with links to REAL info on FB privacy, such as reclaimprivacy.org, didn't get a single Like click or comment, yet the 8th "look at my dog lick his butt" update from some_friend still gets Like-ed and commented to death.
So, yeah...I see where everyones priorities are...and those who actually take the time to lock down or completely delete their FB are a huge minority.
God forbid anything prevent you from taking your Mafia Wars turns for the day...
isamuelson
May 21, 2010 at 5:05am
I have to respectfully disagree with Mr. Murphy (wow, ironic huh? Murhpy's Law?). Yes, it is a free service but it was also created with the idea that you can lock it down to whatever level you want and it should STAY that way unless YOU choose to change it.
For Facebook to just go and blindly change what is viewable by everyone or by noone WITHOUT notifying the user is just plain WRONG!
For example, it used to be possible to hide your profile pic from anyone. Now, without telling anyone, it's public and you cannot do anything about it.
I do agree with Mr. Murphy in that you shouldn't post what you wouldn't want someone like your employer or prospective employers to know. You post yourself nude in front of the White House, well that's your own fault!
Mighty BOB!
May 21, 2010 at 1:31am
Sharing your info/data should be opt-in, not opt-out. Privacy and security should be opt-out, not opt-in. That's why people are making such a big stink about this. Well, that and they're making info public that used to be private.
Zuckerberg is wrong when he says that people don't care about privacy these days. People still care. It's not a social norm to run around in the street and shout all of your personal info to the strangers you walk past, why should it be a social norm to do that to strangers on the web who may or may not have your best intentions in mind?
allantang
May 21, 2010 at 12:37am
I was looking for the like button!
I have been slowly getting rid of a lot of stuff I have on facebook. But I am somehow thinking that when I hit delete on something, its still stored somewhere on facebook servers...
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