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Spotify has been pulling in new users by the boatload since it appeared in America a few months ago. The announcement last week that the music streaming service was being integrated with Facebook will likely serve to swell its ranks even more. But users that decided to jump on the bandwagon now that Spotify is open to all have suddenly found that they must sign in with a Facebook account to get access.
New users that hit the Spotify sign up page are now confronted by a message informing them they must either sign in with Facebook, or create a Facebook account. A Spotify employee posted to a heated Get Satisfaction thread today to expand on the new policy. Yes, new users have to sign in with Facebook, and that’s just the way it is. Existing users are currently unaffected, but no one has to actively use Facebook features in Spotify.
With over 800 million users, most new Spotify sign-ups will already have a Facebook account. But with the frequent security concerns, we have to question the wisdom of forcing people to use Facebook. Would this make you less likely to checkout the free Spotify service?
Comments are closed on this article
ShyLinuxGuy
September 27, 2011 at 7:52pm
I don't have Spotify any longer...I did a while back to try it out, but if they required this back when they were starting the invites, I wouldn't of signed up to begin with because 1) I don't use Facebook and 2) it's not worth the time and trouble to create a fictitious Facebook account.
btw, Facebook != privacy. YOU are the product they sell.
Mighty BOB!
September 26, 2011 at 8:23pm
Damn.. my friend sent me an invite a few days ago and I got lazy and let it sit in my inbox.. now I'm too late. There's no way in hell I am going to link my Facebook account with anything else..
war59312
September 26, 2011 at 8:11pm
Well glad I have had my account than for over a year already.
If they make it so everyone has to have a Facebook account than I will NEVER use Spotify again.
What a stupid ass idea!!!! Can't wait to hear they get sued for discrimination. lol
Eoraptor
September 27, 2011 at 7:35am
sued for discrimination? WTF?
last time I checked, being sheeple enough to have a facebook was not a protected status like, you know, sex, creed, race, religion, or handicap.
bpstone
September 26, 2011 at 6:34pm
I prefer to actually have fun with friends rather than waste my time on boring Facebook. This has finally given me a reason drop it. I'll keep my profile for public use, but strip everything off of that is private information then almost completely abandon it. I use Twitter as a middle ground. My website that I've already invested a large hunk into will become my central hub. [MaximumPC is the only location where I use the username bpstone. Profiles found elsewhere belong to other individuals.] There are a bunch of people who've already left it for greener pastures.
ShyLinuxGuy
September 27, 2011 at 8:01pm
I don't disagree with you at all, but read the Facebook ToS--some VERY interesting stuff if you skim over it...here's just two from the ToS page:
#1- You will not provide any false personal information on Facebook, or create an account for anyone other than yourself without permission. So, if you lie about going to some concert, you are effectively violating the ToS. Facebook wants the 100% TRUTH so they can SELL the truth to marketing companies...
#7- You will keep your contact information accurate and up-to-date. After all, that's their bread and butter...they can't sell OLD, useless information about you to marketing companies...
It be a bunch of BS if they were serious enough to pursue this, even if they don't, it's a policy and policies are enforceable if you want to keep using Facebook.
Facebook will end up like Myspace in ~5 years. Watch.
Holly Golightly
September 27, 2011 at 8:57pm
It do me no good. They can sell the truth all they want. FaceBook is not getting a red cent from me because 1.) I run ad block, and 2.) I log onto that boring network once every 8 weeks. So sell, sell, sell!!! I am no product of theirs. They will go out of business and get sold to an advertising firm just like MySpace... In about the time you just said... 5 years. Although FaceBook has always been boring as-is, so...
KenLV
September 26, 2011 at 5:07pm
Stupid move. I don’t use Facebook, not that I’m opposed to its existence or anything, but I just don’t use it and see no need to tie one service that has NOTHING to do with another together. And if they try to "encourage", “nudge”, “entice” existing subscribers, I'll cancel all three of our family's accounts in a heartbeat.
abowlofsoda
September 26, 2011 at 3:26pm
I have a dummy facebook account with a fakename. I don't even use it to post anything. I used that for Spotify and then removed the facebook features from there.
Spotify is awesome. I been a subscriber for over a month now and I'm loving it.
P.s. Facebook sucks
bloodgain
September 26, 2011 at 3:07pm
Dumb move. With Google+ threatening to take over where Facebook lacks in features and privacy, it's a bad move to forcefully tie yourself to a social media service. Facebook is widespread, but far from ubiquitous. It's no Google Search. I still know plenty of people personally who don't have FB accounts, but very few who don't use Google as a verb.
Edit note: This post would have been slightly more amusing if the strikethrough text worked.
Holly Golightly
September 26, 2011 at 2:59pm
I have tried to get Spotify when I found out when you guys posted the article about it being free for 6 months. It asked for me to create a FaceBook account if I did not have one. To hell with Spotify. I would rather be stuck listening to my "oldies" than have every song I listen to recorded on FaceBook's anti-privacy servers. I am sorry. Sigh, and I was willing to pay once they went open. Oh well... I will stick with the Zune Smart DJ.
