i deactivated my facebook account
Posted August 5th, 2007 by Clint
It’s true, less than 30 seconds ago (it’s 11:58 PM on Sunday, August 5, 2007). While Scoble, and others are in a virtual love fest with Facebook, I just didn’t find any value in it.
Sure, I set up my profile, found some friends and joined some groups and for all that, the value returned to me was 0. I must be too old, but the way Facebook works with it’s walled garden and so-called ‘app-sharing’ it seemed to me nothing so much as a platform for chain letters (hey, friendX’s zombie just bit you, install the zombie app and bite more people to start your zombie army) in the form of shareable applications.
I’m sure that for avid users, this will be a slap in the face. I may even be labeled a Luddite or curmudgeon (which is fine, I am both at times), but my time is precious (to me at least) and if you’re planning on wasting it, it had better return something to me - entertainment perhaps, valuable connections, interesting discussions … something. Well, I have my valuable connections on LinkedIn and Twitter (and email of course). The interesting discussions are happening on the blogs and boards and as far as entertainment goes, Cute Overload is WAY better.
Adios Facebook, until you show me some value, I’m not spending my time with you.
August 6th, 2007 at 03:30:28
I gotta admit, I was pretty late to the Facebook game too, and I have too many online social networks to properly maintain, so I’m kinda slow to add another. What’s appealing and useful to me about Facebook is that my peers are actually using it - so there are enough people that I can use it as a way to keep tabs on those who aren’t in my other online social spaces.
I spend a lot more time with Twitter and Flickr than Facebook; I might log in to Facebook twice in a week, particularly if it sends me some notification of some kind of friendly social contact. Twitter & Flickr alternate as the first site I visit every day, though, and Facebook isn’t about to displace them–I get a lot more out of the social interactions.
Facebook was made for college kids, and I suspect that the farther you are from an academic environment, the less it has to offer.
August 6th, 2007 at 05:41:24
Hey Andrea,
I’m glad to hear that someone finds some value in it. You may be right, I’m just too old and too far from my college days to ‘get it’. Then again, it may be that the groups I was a part of are just not active so there isn’t any meaningful exchange of information happening on Facebook (that I care about). I at least expected the Tufte group to have some interesting conversations - oh well.
August 6th, 2007 at 07:43:56
Luddite.
You have time for Twitter but not Facebook? I am confused! Now you cannot participate in the Web 2.0 Measurement Working Group at Facebook! Grrr.
(I clicked that “Cute Overload” link … why do I want a puppy now?)
E.
August 6th, 2007 at 07:51:30
Puppies! Hah! On Twitter, I only check it a couple of times a day to read the updates (or update it) whereas with Facebook I was checking it much too frequently - looking to see if SOMETHING, ANYTHING was going to happen. The most exciting thing? Being turned into a Zombie.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:00:42
I joined Facebook with Eric P. said he switched the Web 2.0 group… Spent (too) many hours on it, looking around at stuff and people I know, and concluded 1) I don’t like the interface and the usability 2) it’s a waste of my time.
J.Carrabis actually has an interesting thread on BizMediaScience: Media free, that’s easy and scary. Those who really wants to reach me will be able even without Facebook. So what’s left? A trendy social gizmo for trying to do in the virtual world what I can’t in the real one? Not for me: my blog, LinkedIn and face-to-face conversations are enough
The day you Twit about your Second Life whith your Facebook friends… go see a REAL psychologist
S.Hamel
immeria.net
August 6th, 2007 at 10:13:43
Stephane, I totally agree. I’ve got too many communication/information inputs as it is, so adding another benefitless one seems pointless. Joe’s article seems interesting although applying Einstein’s quote, which if I remember correctly is about Nuclear bombs, to Internet technology seems a bit flippant.
August 7th, 2007 at 18:44:44
C’mon man! Bite some chumps! Bite some chumps!
August 7th, 2007 at 19:01:38
I say ‘MEH’! If I want to see some chumps git bitten’ by zombies, I’ll watch Shaun of the Dead.
August 9th, 2007 at 09:25:33
The only reason I have joined FaceBook, MySpace etc. is because some family and friends only communicate electronically that way — they have abandoned email.
I find it annoying to have to log in to a million different accounts, email is much easier. Blogs are also great.
And as far as those sites go, Trig.com has a much nicer interface.
The one that adds the most value by far is LinkedIn. I get job offers etc. through it and not unnecessary “pokes” and “food fights”. It only asks for my attention when something valuable has happened.
What happened to good old email though? My mom is one of few that still use it… I like email.
August 9th, 2007 at 10:11:38
Lars,
(and the phone) and even *gasp* face-to-face.
thank you. thank you. thank you. We must be two old guys who prefer email
I know that Scoble and all these web 2.0ers are all anti-email but that just seems silly to me.