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[Frumple]

S'a lot of facebook users that either can't or won't use those methods, unfortunately.

[Sheb]

And social network are great for passively staying in contact with other persons. You don't need to activelypen e-mail or call them to know what they're up to and vice-versa.

[Dutchling]

You can also send messages to someone just by knowing their name. No need for email, chat programs etc. Pretty useful imo.

[SalmonGod]

And social network are great for passively staying in contact with other persons. You don't need to activelypen e-mail or call them to know what they're up to and vice-versa.

This is the big one.  I can know what's going on in the lives of friends and family who I still care about, but aren't currently a major part of my life and don't communicate with often.  When something's going on with them that's important or I would otherwise have cause to get involved in or comment on, it's easy for me to know and to do so.  My posts do the same for others.

S'a lot of facebook users that either can't or won't use those methods, unfortunately.

And yeah... while the majority of people may be using the internet these days, the majority are not using it to the depth that anyone on this forum likely is.  Most of the people on my facebook list probably don't fully understand and appreciate what IRC or a forum are, or would be very willing to get involved in them.  Most prefer to keep their involvement with the internet light and simple.

[Solifuge]

Whenever I hear of people's personal information being dug out through Facebook, I'm prepared.

I have a roll of tape to tape my smug mouth shut.

I never understood how someone can simultaneously value privacy and  post private information on the Internet.

I hope your Smugness Duct Tape brings you a feeling of superiority.

Social Networks like Facebook are oriented towards people you know personally; unlike other mediums like IRC, Forums, even Cell Phones, they allow you to search for people you know by name, and seek them out. It's also a form of asynchronous communication; you don't have to both be free at the same time to stay in contact, organize a gathering, etc. It has unique utility, and though I only used it for about a week back in 2005, it pisses me off that Zuckerburg is taking something that should be the next big communications technology, and twisting it into a fucking Surveillance Tool and Data Collection Service.

He's taking something beautiful and new, and ruining it.

[BerenErchamion]

Interesting.

Facebook appears to have developed a function to export and download a copy of all of an account's personal data. On the surface, this function is only available to the owner of the account... but this seems an exceedingly strange function to create. I mean, you already know who you are, so why would you have a use for that data?

However, if Facebook was in the business of exporting and sharing user data as a cheep, accessible form of background check, I could see why they would create this function.

As has been already noted above, a lot of the data they have on you is stuff they've inferred based on what you've done explicitly.  And EU privacy protection laws require them to make that data available to the individual concerned, in the interests of transparency--you have a right to  know exactly what it is they have on you.

[BerenErchamion]

Call me opinionated, but I would sooner be unemployed that work for a company that required a Facebook Page as a component of hiring. Even if it's a position I really, really want... I can't condone that. It's invasive and wrong.

In other news... Mark Zucherberg himself has voiced concerns over Facebook's finances being public knowledge now that it's become a Publicly Traded Company. However, apparently Goldman Sachs invested 450 Million with Facebook, and created a "Special Purpose Investment Vehicle" which allows Goldman Sachs to invest in Facebook on behalf of other parties (who themselves pay Goldman Sachs). We only see investments from GS, but who knows what parties are actually investing.

Isn't that basically what a mutual fund is?  How do you know Facebook itself played an active role in this?  They can't control who does and does not buy their stock.

[Moghjubar]

At least employers only get your facebook data, just image if they went after your forum/s data!

Also, /highfive for anyone that doesn't have a facebook account, if there are any left  (otherwise, self /highfive)

[Vector]

I have one.  It's necessary for networking purposes.

[Skyrunner]

I have one.  It's necessary for networking purposes.

[da_nang]

And I refuse to have one. Sue me.

Or rather, I'll sue anyone who denies me a job because of it.

At least employers only get your facebook data, just image if they went after your forum/s data!

Also, /highfive for anyone that doesn't have a facebook account, if there are any left  (otherwise, self /highfive)

/highfive

[scrdest]

And I refuse to have one. Sue me.

Or rather, I'll sue anyone who denies me a job because of it.

At least employers only get your facebook data, just image if they went after your forum/s data!

Also, /highfive for anyone that doesn't have a facebook account, if there are any left  (otherwise, self /highfive)

/highfive

^^^

Also, /highfive.

[LordSlowpoke]

over here it's considered edgy to not have a facebook

careful when highfiving me i have to use gloves when handling myself

[Sergarr]

/highfive x3

[Vector]

I'm not doing that kind of networking, though.  I do translation, teaching, and mathematics, which means that being in contact with someone who knows somebody is really important.

What I'm trying to say is that it's invaluable as a social utility, barring any stupid company requirements.