Ask HN: Why Facebook requires login to view public pages? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Why Facebook requires login to view public pages?

#11

Post by kleer001 » Sat, Sep 19, 2020, 9:06 PM UTC

pestaa wrote: post #5

CameronNemo wrote: post #2

Because they own the network and they want to track you. Expect it to get progressively worse before Facebook finally implodes.

Why do you think it has a finite lifespan?

Previous large social networks eroded too, no reason to think Facebook is any different.

Re: Ask HN: Why Facebook requires login to view public pages?

#12

Post by kevingadd » Sat, Sep 19, 2020, 9:09 PM UTC

Seeing that here too. Definitely wasn't the case until recently.

Re: Ask HN: Why Facebook requires login to view public pages?

#13

Post by 4cao » Sat, Sep 19, 2020, 9:16 PM UTC

The immediate reason might have something to do with the recent redesign of the Facebook website to make it more like their apps.

But broadly it's because they can.

Re: Ask HN: Why Facebook requires login to view public pages?

#14

Post by anonzzz » Sat, Sep 19, 2020, 9:26 PM UTC

Because they want to own you.

Re: Ask HN: Why Facebook requires login to view public pages?

#15

Post by rvz » Sat, Sep 19, 2020, 9:27 PM UTC

> Does anyone know the reason, and whether it is a permanent or temporary change?

Because it's Facebook. They did it to Instagram because that's also Facebook.

They will do whatever it takes to get 'real users' logging in and not window shopping on their website.

Re: Ask HN: Why Facebook requires login to view public pages?

#16

Post by _trampeltier » Sat, Sep 19, 2020, 9:57 PM UTC

That's pretty bad, I think. A lot restaurants and events (mis)used facebook as there website. We will see what does happen with these sites ..

Re: Ask HN: Why Facebook requires login to view public pages?

#17

Post by oehtXRwMkIs » Sat, Sep 19, 2020, 10:32 PM UTC

pestaa wrote: post #5

CameronNemo wrote: post #2

Because they own the network and they want to track you. Expect it to get progressively worse before Facebook finally implodes.

Why do you think it has a finite lifespan?

What has an infinite lifespan?

Re: Ask HN: Why Facebook requires login to view public pages?

#18

Post by cipherzero » Sat, Sep 19, 2020, 11:17 PM UTC

Any chance this change was related to the recent scraping decision from the Supreme Court (I think) against linked in? Maybe this is to prevent people scraping content front public pages.

That and as others have mentioned I’m sure they’d love everyone to always be logged in for ad tracking purposes...

Re: Ask HN: Why Facebook requires login to view public pages?

#19

Post by Engineering-MD » Sat, Sep 19, 2020, 11:48 PM UTC

Just to confirm this has also happened to me in UK overnight, so definitely a new change and international. To echo others, I wonder what will happen to all the businesses using facebook as their main site. I’m sure some won’t care but others might see a gradual drop in foot fall

Re: Ask HN: Why Facebook requires login to view public pages?

#20

Post by robjan » Sun, Sep 20, 2020, 3:07 AM UTC

kleer001 wrote: post #11

pestaa wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do you think it has a finite lifespan?

Previous large social networks eroded too, no reason to think Facebook is any different.

Previous networks didn't absorb the majority of the interconnected world, become one of the biggest companies in the world or have huge lobbying power.