It’s Complicated With Facebook

Facebook.

I’ve been a member since December 16, 2006. My first profile picture was one of those typical Myspace shots, a terrible “let’s look away” sort of things.

See what I mean? Heavy black eyeliner? Check. Not looking at the camera? Check. Posing awkwardly? Check.

As time went by, I posted more and more pictures. Slowly, I became increasingly reliant on the site, using it to keep in touch with my old friends and check out new ones. It’s like conducting background checks sometimes. Using the site has allowed me to become ridiculously skilled at reading between lines, determining how well I’d get along with someone. I’m not the only one, the creator Mark Zuckerberg says he can predict relationships between people, although that doesn’t really take much skill. All it takes is time. Anyone can plop down and read wall-to-walls and check out budding romances and those gone bad. We all do it, even if you won’t admit to it. However, do you ever stop to think that someone is reading your wall-to-wall with someone?

The idea that someone, anyone, is taking time to look at my Facebook creeps me out. Even though I am fastidious about who I add (I’m only friends with one blogger–everyone else I have personally met and know), I don’t relish the idea of any of them checking out my profile and pictures. Not only that, I have almost all of my friends “hidden” from my newsfeed. I don’t want to see their updates and pictures. If I did, I could click their profile. It’s not because I don’t like my friends or I don’t care what’s going on in their lives. I just don’t think it’s healthy. And some people are just Facebook whores.

Since I don’t really like the idea of people I know looking at my profile and pictures, why would I be okay with Mark Zuckerberg? Everything about him skeeves me out. From the decidedly shading beginnings, each step Zuckerberg and Facebook take make me more and more apprehensive about trusting Facebook as my chosen platform to connect with friends.

I first took issue when Facebook changed all of my privacy settings to public. I have everything set to private and have done so for years. Whatever though, I thought. I changed them all back to super private and continued on my merry way, commenting and liking away. Then, suddenly, I began “liking” sites I had visited while logged onto Facebook. Sites that were completely and entirely separate from Facebook suddenly showed up on my profile. That isn’t ok. While the only sites that showed up were Gawker and Cracked, I don’t like the idea of Facebook publishing my viewing history. Furthermore, I am not ok with Zuckerberg doing it without my permission. I had opted out of their “Instant Personalization Pilot Program” so why were sites I had visited doing almost exactly that? Why was my information being spread around?

I’m of two minds on Facebook. On one hand, I love the connection it provides. All of my high school friends are on there and a lot of my elementary school friends from the Midwest are there. It reminds me of birthdays and lets me check out my friends’ photos. On the other more sinister hand, I don’t trust Zuckerberg. While I haven’t really delved into the issues behind my lack of trust in him, the Internet is littered with articles about him. If I don’t like people I am friends with having the ability to see so much into my life, why would I allow a stranger to sell my information?

This might seem hypocritical, seeing as how I’m writing this on my blog. I don’t believe it is though. On this blog, I have the ability to publish whatever I’d like. These are my words and while I’m not always certain who views them, I ultimately have control over what goes out. I understand the whole “don’t post online what you don’t want the world to see” idea. I agree with it. None of the pictures I had, or have, online are ones I’m ashamed of. I don’t take pictures I’m ashamed of. None of the posts on my Facebook or my blog make me uncomfortable. What makes me uncomfortable is placing my identity in the hands of someone who doesn’t believe in privacy, who has proven willing to sell my information for a buck without my agreement. When Facebook began showing sites I’ve visited, it’s nearly became the straw that broke the camel’s back. Having nothing to hide doesn’t mean that everything should be shared. There are certain things that should be private and, from where I’m sitting, Facebook doesn’t completely grasp that concept.

I’m still up in the air about deactivating my account. There are numerous benefits to it. The key question is, do the benefits outweigh my privacy concerns?

Right now, I’m not sure. The only reason for not deactivating or deleting my account is because I’ve taken steps to make it as private as possible. I am not tagged in any photos. My profile pictures are private and can only be seen by me. My wall is innocuous and there is no information available on my info that really tells anyone about me. Sure it says where I’m from and where I live but those are things that the people I’m friends with on Facebook are aware of. I also carefully screen anyone who requests me. Unless I know you/have heard of you through a trusted friend, I won’t add you. So why am I still so concerned about remaining on Facebook?

The only reason I’m still on is for my friends. I want to stay in touch with them and Facebook lets me do that, easily. But if Facebook continues in the direction it’s headed, chances are I’m not going with it. I wish there was a good alternative to it. Twitter isn’t, in my opinion. And while a bunch of NYU kids are gearing up to create Diaspora, it’s not there yet. I hope that they succeed though. Hopefully sooner rather than later because leaving behind Mark Zuckerberg will be freeing.