Facebook rose above the fast growing popularity of networking and friending sites. Against its major competitor, Myspace.com, Facebook.com offered unlimited and organizing photo albums, school, work and region based networking and an elite sense of membership. But what the site calls a convenience may be very inconvenient for you.
“Some users have discovered that it is nearly impossible to remove themselves entirely from Facebook, setting off a fresh round of concern over the popular social network’s use of personal data.
While the Web site offers users the option to deactivate their accounts, Facebook servers keep copies of the information in those accounts indefinitely. Indeed, many users who have contacted Facebook to request that their accounts be deleted have not succeeded in erasing their records from the network.”
While most networking sites and blogs sites offer this option in case you do change your mind and want to come back, they also offer the option to delete everything permanently. I’m quite surprised that Facebook doesn’t give this option. With the rising fear of identity theft and privacy, I would hate to think that all the information I fuel into my Facebook account would be floating around the Internet forever!
Read the whole article here, which I ironically found from a friend through Facebook itself. But you know, regardless, I’m pretty sure I will still be addicted to my Facebook and working on my Traveller’s IQ. I think I will just be a little smarter about what I post!
February 13th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
I love Facebook, but knowing that I can’t delete my account 100% kind of makes me uncomfortable…
February 13th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
You could always start using your LJ again… ^_^
I got rid of facebook a while ago due to this.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
I’ve always preferred MySpace to Facebook because I’m all about creativity and individuality, and unless things have changed, you can’t customize Facebook any way you wish. Its appearance was always stripped down and boring, at least, when I looked at it.
I want my social networking site page to play my favorite song and be in the colours I wish. If I ever get around to it, I’m going to do my MySpace page in Flash, which is really what should be going on in all the social networking sites… crisp, clean animation fun! =D
February 13th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
I have been using MySpace ever since 2003 when I was introduced to it by a friend from high school. And to be honest, most of the people that I do communicate with are on MySpace and no other site. So that is why I have yet to venture out into other social sites. Plus, now that most of my family and extended family have MySpace, I see no need to really go out on a new system and start all over again.
February 14th, 2008 at 6:25 am
I love facebook… totally
Oregon Trail, the zombie stuff… so awesome xD
It kind of sucks that you can’t 100% delete, but meh *shrugs* Honestly, I don’t put stuff up that is important to anyone.. I imagine to those people though, it could suck.
I was all about the myspace, I like the person above joined in 2003… It just kind of got old though. Not a whole lot to do on there except post quizes and check out different bands/artists (neato for that though).
February 14th, 2008 at 7:10 am
Just a note, Myspace is going to be adding the “applications” that facebook currently has, and also, I’m sure you’ve notice Myspace now has the “newsfeed”.
February 14th, 2008 at 10:23 am
astral - I know I have been neglecting my LJ! Are you on my FL?
DruidBlue - I agree with you about Myspace, but I think I like the fact that facebook is boring and simple - I think it was so much more user friendly when it started compared to Myspace at the time.
Mandy. - Yes you are right about that! I actually have yet to try out the new skin. I, too, have been with myspace since early 2004 and I do use it to communicate with a lot of people.
February 14th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Um, yep. Let’s put it this way- I’ve known you for almost half your life most likely. Main reason I spotted this site, was I recognized you and Aktrez from my past hobbies/games.
Myspace is another site I can’t stand. My gf likes the site though.
February 15th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
I just can’t get into updating my facebook. I even forget that I have the account sometimes.
February 16th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Jeff-kun?!
February 17th, 2008 at 7:30 am
Yeah, kinda made it obvious.
I’m not good at making people guess. My gf uses that to her advantage all the time. ^_^
February 19th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Wow, I’m so glad you made it on the site! Now, get your gf on!
February 19th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/18/business/18facebook.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1203440442-8aWbLRxZ7DNhSm67r/cKWw&oref=slogin