May 12th, 2010
I just deleted my Facebook account. Why?
In part it’s because of my concerns over Facebook’s frequent changing of the goalposts when it comes to privacy. But even more, it’s Facebook’s growth as an all-purpose internet site. To my mind, Facebook is trying to be AOL 2.0–a site that provides you with email, IM, image hosting, blogging, games, etc. I don’t want the internet centralized. I don’t want a one-stop-shop for all things internet. I don’t want One Site to Rule Them All. And I really don’t want the internet simplifed and dumbed down for people. I want people to smart-up for the internet. I want people to learn to use email and instant messaging through the numerous apps and tools available. I want people to learn to use a blogging platform. I want people to learn to use RSS. None of these things are really all that difficult, and outside of Facebook, you can control your privacy a lot more.
If you want to follow my exploits and read my rambling thoughts, read this blog and follow me on Twitter or FriendFeed. If you want to see my photos, check me out on Flickr. If you want to talk to me, email or IM me. But don’t look for me on Facebook, because I won’t be there anymore.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 12th, 2010 at 5:11 pm and is filed under life, social software, tech, web. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
I left too for much the same reason. I don’t know what they are doing with my stuff and who they are sharing it with. This is day 2 and I am only missing it a little bit.
I actually have 3 FB accounts- 1 is “professional” 1 is for family, and the last I just created this week, so I can join groups and like things without having my real personal data shared..well, in as much as anyone can be anonymous on the Web. It is getting ridiculous. I should spend more time on Twitter.
Tina, I created a “shell” account with no personal information & no personal photos. Because I’m an admin on a few pages, including two library pages, I have to have some kind of Facebook access. But that’s all I’ll give Facebook.
I resisted having a Facebook account for years since I was very hesitant about privacy issues. However, I finally gave in to it and created a ‘holder’ account in order to get access to other people’s profiles that they wanted me to see, and eventually started to add to my profile if for specific purposes – firstly to help communicate with local residents since I was leading a campaign to stop an incinerator being built – and now I think I will use it for PR and marketing purposes for my business ventures – but I will always keep in mind that whatever I post will add to my public profile, that potentially anyone will be able to view it, and possibly for a very long time, so I don’t post any specific details about by children or family, and don’t encourage my friends to use my account for social purposes. I fear however for the youth who post all kinds of junk without realising the implications on their futures – thank goodness Facebook wasn’t around when I was a teenager!
OMG, I am such a loser – I am just reading this now. This morning I realized that while I had seen your FF posts, I had not seen you in my FB feed – and lo and behold, you were nowhere to be found. I was just getting ready to send you an email and I thought, “Better check the blog first!” xo
Jessica, you can still send me an email if you want to. :)
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