Facebook Sells Out
Tuesday, September 12th, 2006Newsfeeds. Chances are, you hate them. My coworker found out that her best friend was no longer in a serious relationship because facebook automatically notified her of a status change in her friend’s profile. Now, you probably talk to your best friends all the time, but most of the time you probably do not care that someone who friended you on facebook and with whom you have not spoken since high school alerts you that “wearing crocks” has been removed from an interest. The word “stalker” came to many student minds, and this rollout of the newsfeed feature last week sparked a myriad of protests. The official petition group against facebook actually gained almost 100 new members each time one refreshed the page, at one point!
I am actually in several networks (Fairfield, Boston, BC, and Liberty Mutual), but that is because I have several email addresses that met the criteria for facebook’s members.With the lack of privacy and controls that are quickly approaching with the updates coming soon to facebook, I foresee facebook coming closer and closer to the smut that is myspace. I am thankful that Mark Zuckerberg added some privacy controls, but I remain on guard and will not fully embrace the new facebook at this time.
Is it all bad? No, not really. I am really looking forward to when friends of mine who no longer have access to their college email addresses are able to join the facebook network. I suppose the facebook bigwigs must be super excited about the advertising dollars that will continue to pile in with an expanded network - but I really do not care about that.
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