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Personal Reason for Hating Facebook (2015)

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Re: Personal Reason for Hating Facebook (2015)

#41

Post by jakequade »

ExcelSaga wrote: post #11
jakequade wrote: post #7

Sorry, but for the most part this sounds stupid. You're hating a widespread method of communication because it doesn't work for you _when you're not using it_. That's like complaining that no one text messages you if you never opted in to owning a phone.

I hate that, if I somehow don’t want to consign my personal data, beliefs, preferences, relationships, work history, daily plans, and private messages to a massive advertising corporation, I have to risk missing out on seminal life events. Not being on Facebook is sort of like not having a cellphone. Sure, me and a small number of weirdos can opt out, but we are increasingly disadvantaged by it. I think that’s a good…

There's a huge leap between using the platform and giving them all of your data. Be restrictive around what you put up, and the permissions you give it. Sure, it's some measure of personal involvement, but it's necessary for the most basic of access.

Shouldn't it also be the case that, if you're the one not on a widespread platform that - clearly - a lot of people are using to communicate, it's on you to make the effort to reach out?

I actually think the opposite of your claim - expecting a family who's member has committed suicide to have to actively reach out to this one person is rude and without depth. Expecting any kind of personalised treatment whilst alienating yourself is similar, but that one example sums it up for me.

Re: Personal Reason for Hating Facebook (2015)

#42

Post by xkjkls »

apo wrote: post #36

Not being on Facebook is sort of like not having a cellphone. As someone who has never had a cell phone, I can say that living this way in a first-world country is challenging. I've been in situations where it's assumed I do have a cell phone, and the result ranges from awkward to maddening for the other party. I also don't have a Facebook account. Not having a cell phone is much more troublesome. The pull of network…

Ok, I'll bite. Why don't you have a cell phone?

Re: Personal Reason for Hating Facebook (2015)

#43

Post by bigiain »

komali2 wrote: post #26
brianfitz wrote: post #15

I remember reading this when it was originally posted years ago and have had time to think about the implications. I am just over 40, so most of my class reunions were organized through Facebook and was amazed at the turn-out possible because of these new social networks. For my mother, there were simply people she no longer knew how to reach — including one of her best friends from childhood. Years went by until Fac…

Agreed. Furthermore, Facebook doesn't require your work history or any of the other things the author claims is it's blood payment cost of entry. Last I checked it needs a valid email address, name, and password. I've stripped most of my personal information off Facebook and now just use it as a messaging app and a "find me by name" sort of internet yellow pages thing.

> Last I checked it needs a valid email address, name, and password.

And your social graph. You implicitly give it information about all your interactions and connections - and allow it to record even interactions you aren't aware of (like other FB users looking you up or checking your profile without interacting with you in ways you find out about). You're also opting in to web-wide surveillance, where FB track you individually across every webpage with Facebook social widget on it (unless you take steps to manage your browser's FB login status - and most likely even if you do log out whenever you're done with FB by using "industry standard" ad network browser fingerprinting...)

Re: Personal Reason for Hating Facebook (2015)

#44

Post by gfodor »

brianfitz wrote: post #15

I remember reading this when it was originally posted years ago and have had time to think about the implications. I am just over 40, so most of my class reunions were organized through Facebook and was amazed at the turn-out possible because of these new social networks. For my mother, there were simply people she no longer knew how to reach — including one of her best friends from childhood. Years went by until Fac…

The problem is one of counterfactuals. Given the growth of the internet, something that provides the value of Facebook to people was inevitable. What wasn't inevitable was that it take on the form of a centralized service that ended up enveloping the world. In the past, centralized services gave way to shared internet protocols before they reached the size and scale Facebook has.

There are certainly other paths the world could have taken where such power and control would not be in the hands of one company (and one person, really) but that's not what happened and it's worth lamenting if you believe the problem of "keeping friends connected through the internet" could have taken on radically different forms.

Re: Personal Reason for Hating Facebook (2015)

#45

Post by bigiain »

chrischen wrote: post #8

Facebook's primary feature is a newsfeed which uses an algorithm to shape and influence who you ultimately interact with. If you consign your interpersonal relationship to Facebook's algorithms then it has become normal for facebook's algorithm to shape and control the opinions and relationships of people en-masse. Whether you consider facebook's algorithms benevolent or not, the danger actually lies in the fact that…

Right. Features are for customers. Facebook's primary feature is ubiquitous surveillance of 2 billion users. The newsfeed is a use of that feature, where advertisers and "Facebook partners" can pay to manipulate targeted portions of those 2 billion users.

To Facebook _users_, the newsfeed is just a gimmick they use to get you to reveal more about you and your friends/connections than you would otherwise.

Re: Personal Reason for Hating Facebook (2015)

#46

Post by xapata »

graeme wrote: post #13
xapata wrote: post #2

Note that carrying a smartphone and using a credit card is entrusting a great deal of information to advertising companies. All major phone and credit companies are selling your data (anonymized, to the degree they feel is optimal). I'm not sure that Facebook is any worse. To be more clear: They know where you go, who you call and text, and what you buy.

Even on iphone with content blockers running and location services disabled for most apps except while using? Referring to ad companies here, not NSA etc

Your phone carrier still triangulates your location from cell towers you're connected to. It's not as accurate as GPS, but is good enough for many purposes, except in places as dense as NYC.

And don't tell me you're cash-only.

Re: Personal Reason for Hating Facebook (2015)

#47

Post by protomyth »

wyager wrote: post #35
komali2 wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. Furthermore, Facebook doesn't require your work history or any of the other things the author claims is it's blood payment cost of entry. Last I checked it needs a valid email address, name, and password. I've stripped most of my personal information off Facebook and now just use it as a messaging app and a "find me by name" sort of internet yellow pages thing.

> Last I checked it needs a valid email address, name, and password. I’ve had friends have to submit government ID to prove that they were using their real name.

Why is wyager getting down voted? This is not uncommon given that people with certain types of last names (e.g. Yellow Horse) are targeted and then need to prove who they are. I cannot confidently say they don't keep the id given the whole phone call revelations of the last week.

Re: Personal Reason for Hating Facebook (2015)

#49

Post by travv0 »

sparkie wrote: post #22
FargoPelz wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Could you elaborate? I'm concerned about these things myself, so I already don't use the Facebook app on my phone. What else can they collect?

Every website you visit that has a Facebook beacon on it. They collect this even if you're not a Facebook user.

I've been aware of this for a while but haven't done anything about it, but since you mentioned it I might as well ask: Is there an easy way to block this beacon? Is it something an adblocker would block by default?

Re: Personal Reason for Hating Facebook (2015)

#50

Post by tinyhouse »

On a related note. A couple of years ago I was really annoyed by all the notifications FB emailed me. I went to settings trying to change it so that FB only sends me emails if someone is tagging me or sending me a message. Maybe I'm stupid, I just couldn't figure it out. They made it so confusing and after a few attempts I just stopped receiving any notifications, missing out some important messages from people. I don't think it's just a bad UX (which it is). It's probably by design, intentionally making it hard for people to disconnect.
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