The Day I Realised Facebook Is A Noun And Not A Verb

Facebook gives users more control of privacy

…screams the headline.

Facebook faces criticism on privacy change

…squeals another.

Sigh. OK, so what does this mean for me? I scan the articles. There are quotes.

“We believe users will feel comfortable sharing more,” said a spokesperson.

Okaaay.

Facebook would encourage people to be more open with their updates because, he said, that was in line with “the way the world is moving”.

Uh oh. This could be bad.

Or maybe not.

But I have to find out, because it’s my information.

You know what? Why do I have to find out? It is my information.

When I signed up for Facebook, I had to give some personal information like email and location and things. I added a list of my friends. I made sure my information couldn’t be seen by anyone but friends, but I don’t know the impact on me if they choose to share everything with everyone.

Maybe I don’t want everyone to know I’m friends with someone.

Thing is, every time Facebook makes a change, storm in a teacup or not as this may be, I have to think “What does this mean for me?”

And I’m sick of doing that, because I’ll have to do it again in three months time when the next set of changes are made. I’ll stop what I’m doing, check that it’s all still how I originally set up and either change it or go back about my business.

I don’t want to stop what I’m doing. Social networking should be about living and real life, and if any of my network operators stop me doing that then it’s too much networking and not enough social.

I don’t want to find out what impact on these new changes will have on me. I don’t have time to study it either now or later.

Privacy inconsistencies
The difference between sharing Groups and Pages is another example of Facebook’s inconsistent user experience.

As of today, I’ve hidden my work details, my networks, my favourite films, blah blah blah and what groups I belong to, you could still see which Pages I’m a fan of. There’s no way of setting privacy controls on that.

Why would I want to hide everything about myself except that I’m a fan of Support the monks in Burma and the Francis Rodino Band (who you should check out, by the way)?

So I resigned from all my fan groups, even the ones I had an interest in, like my own blog, because I don’t have time to figure out how that information might be shared.

Facebook: “Don’t get annoyed. Just learn how to use the system properly.”

This morning I was sent a bulk email on Facebook inviting me and about thirty friends (and I use that term in the true sense) to a Christmas drinks. Because it was sent to numerous recipients, I just know that for the rest of the day I’m going to get replies from dozens of people because that is the default on a multi-recipient email. Users can answer the mail privately, but they have to choose to get in touch with the sender using a different route and most people won’t do that.

So my online experience is compromised because it’s only as good as other users’ behaviour in an inconsistent system.

Had my friend set up a Group, I wouldn’t have this problem. Had he set up a Page, it would remain public because page memberships can’t be hidden. But seeing as he send a mass email, the only default option is to reply to everyone.

It’s just awful.

It’s neither of us, it’s them

I haven’t used Facebook in about a year, but now the only presence I have is a page that allows people to  get in touch through the system so we can communicate in a way in which you and I will know exactly and always what’s going on and how our information will be used.

I haven’t killed my Facebook profile, but everything is now hidden from everyone. Apart from my picture and the fact that I have a page if real friends want to get in touch, that’s all there is.

We’re not going to Facebook (v.)

I can be found through Facebook.

We’re friends if we’re friends, and you can get in touch, but let’s have a conversation without rules.