When you signed up for Facebook, did you read their Terms and Conditions?  Probably not.  I'll bet you haven't read many, even when the sign up process (or install process, for applications) throws them up in your face making them impossible to ignore.  "You must click I Accept to continue" - Well I accept then!  You more than likely didn't read Facebook's because they don't throw them in your face.  They actually do have a T&C's document, as well as a Privacy document.  Raise your hand if you've read them.  Don't worry, my hand is down too...

 

 

To their credit, Facebook does put these policies in as hyperlinks before your account is created.  See them in the screenshot above?  Easy to miss.  However I'm fairly sure that reading them wouldn't have deterred me from continuing with the sign-up process or putting my stuff on the site.  Besides, these sure are wordy documents, and reading them would take a while, which frankly, could be better spent uploading my photos.  Meh, how bad could it be?

 

Apparently it's bad enough.  We've all read about the privacy boundaries Facebook's been crossing lately.  I've been concerned, and so I checked myself out with the Facebook Privacy Scanner.  I came out pretty good - the only holes I've left open are in who can contact me, and I've left these open on purpose.

 

My comfort level with Facebook really hasn't changed much in the light of their recent practices.  Appearances led me to believe that things weren't any worse than the Airmiles corporation tracking your spending habits.  Then, one recent day, I landed on an article on People.com.  It really doesn't matter what the article was.  If you have a Facebook account, just go there and take yourself to an article - then take a look at the comments section.

 

 

Yeah, I really wish people would learn how to spell "congradulations" without a d too.  But that's not my issue.  Facebook's privacy settings are also not my issue (I feel I have enough control over that, even with the current changes).  My issue is that Facebook was suddenly INVADING my browsing of other sites.  Even if I don't make a comment in the above people.com example, you can bet your grizzly bottom that Facebook is now tracking my visit there and the articles I read.  Google does this to some degree, especially if you click on a link from their search page (it's how their search works).  So I expect it from Google.  But Facebook?  Hey Facebook, I DIDN'T INVITE YOU THERE.

 

This is my issue.  Facebook is putting itself where it's not welcome.  It's like a trojan virus.  It's like Sony's attempt to put a trojan on some music CD's because they thought it was in their best interest (and yours), as it was designed to prevent you from copying the CD.  This obviously went over like a lead balloon, and Sony (it seems) has learned its lesson.  It's like Google launching Google Buzz, and releasing a list of your contacts to the outside world by default.  But hey, Google learned, and they fixed it.  It's like Windows Media Player sharing "what I'm currently listening to" on my Windows Live Messenger status - but guess what?  I CAN TURN THAT OFF!  Yes, Microsoft actually got that one right!

 

So please, Facebook, tell me: where is the checkbox that lets me turn off your Open Graph?  Is it supposed to be this?

 

 

 

 

To all of my Facebook Friends: please, get yourself a Twitter account.  It's really cool.  It's done right.  It's trustworthy.  But it's different and takes a bit of getting used to.  Give it a try, and follow me at @smd2008.  Get yourself a twitter client like Tweetdeck (my preferred) to make engaging the twitter stream easier.

 

Please feel free to add me on LinkedIn too.  I LOVE LinkedIn.  Very Professional.  Very Trustworthy.  I use it strictly professionally though, so don't worry about it if we're just friends (see Twitter above or Email below instead - in fact, I may reject a LinkedIn invitation from "just friends").  My public profile is here: http://sa.linkedin.com/in/mikediamond

 

I am also trying Posterous.  This will be my facebook-like 'feed' going forward, assuming I stick with it.  And if I move to something different, I'll post the new link there anyway.  http://smd2008.superatomic.com/

 

I post pictures on Flickr from time to time, but when I do, I'll likely post to Posterous.  My flickr feed is at http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylridia/

 

I also have a YouTube Channel.  It's dull, but no more dull than my Facebook videos.  Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/user/mdiamond2007

 

If all these websites seem overwhelming, get yourself an RSS reader, and add your friends' blogs, youtube channels, and flickr feeds to it.  RSS is a TRULY OPEN GRAPH!  Add who you want, and in reciprocation, their blogs won't try to integrate themselves into the sites you visit!  It's the way things are supposed to be!  By the way, Google Reader is FREE, and awesome, and is always current no matter what machine you are reading from.  You can even share items and feeds with other Google Reader readers.  Cool stuff!  http://www.google.com/reader/.

 

You know what else you could do?  Import your RSS feeds into Facebook.  Yes, Facebook actually does this.  Then your RSS articles will show up in your Facebook stream.  It means my sites can still show up in your Facebook stream.  I'm fine with that - it doesn't affect me one bit.

 

I also have an email address!  I know, I'm so cutting edge.  Add me to your Rolodex.  Email me!  I don't mind!  I don't even mind publishing it on the Interwebz.  It's a PUBLIC ADDRESS.  I'm used to getting SPAM at it, so Spammers, please SPAM AWAY: diamond@superatomic.com

 

As for Facebook: Sayonara.