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Facebook Banned Me for Life Because I Help People Use It Less (2021)
- urbandw311er 2y agoI’d chip in towards defending the lawsuit if they wanted to crowdfund.
- AlbertCory 2y agoI have this thing: https://www.fbpurity.com/ https://www.fbpurity.com/ which I use to get rid of those "suggested posts" from groups I never joined. You could also customize it to do what this guy's tool does, I suppose.
- mrinfinitiesx 2y agoNice. I installed one of those addons to hide that crap. I only use my fb for my local pet shelter that I volunteer at and other things I volunteer with since tech is well, in transition to say the least. https://micg.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/output.gif https://micg.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/output.gif I have to scroll for like 2 minutes just to find a local group post (small town that gives out local town news), It's all suggested/sponsored/ads. I have facebook blocked in my /etc/hosts file so I can only view it at the shelter etc. But yeah, that's the crap its feeding in our faces. When you visualize it, it's like and see what it's really doing to your brain/eyes, you need to reclaim that time and attention sink.
- croisillon 2y agoi love that tool: - i only see posts from people/organisations i friended/followed - those posts are in chronological order - and i don't see what people liked/commented somewhere else - on top of that, i don't see "reels" or whatever this feature is called - and when a contact change their name/deactivate/unfriend i receive a notification
- kirenida 2y agoThis is another similar tool: https://socialfixer.com/ https://socialfixer.com/ It loads 10 posts at a time and filters out all of the junk. Then you have to manually load more posts. It's really eye-opening when you load 10 posts and it filters out 9 of them. But besides that, the thing that's really pushing me away from FB is the pure hate, agression and stupidity on display in the comments section of local groups. It hurts to see the levels people descend to when they can comment without any repercussions.
- rolph 2y agohow someone with a banhammer hanging overhead behaves is nowhere near as valuable an indicator, compared to behaviour when there are no perceived consequences. [the thing that's really pushing me away from FB is the pure hate, agression and stupidity on display in the comments section of local groups] -- you are seeing what lurks inside, and what degree of personal refraint exists.
- AlbertCory 2y agoactually, on NextDoor, the population is so limited that it's fairly productive to Mute/Block the hateful or dumb people ("excuse me, but please pick up after your dog.") FB, of course, has billions of users so that doesn't work.
- OptionOfT 2y agoNextDoor where I live is overrun by advertisements for gutters and 1 day shower replacements. Maybe I live in a boring area?
- genewitch 2y agonextdoor wouldn't even onboard me, i sent a message with details to their team and they said they'd fix it for me... that was like 3 or 4 years ago. I had to define a new neighborhood, so maybe that's why?
- Log_out_ 2y agoNobody stops anybody from making a antisocial network graph and use a bot to block out the sun..
- tim333 2y agoI was going to recommend that. I'm amazed when I try using fb without it at the amount of junk it throws up.
- sasaf5 2y ago> It also told me that it had permanently disabled my Facebook account—an account that I’d had for more than 15 years, and that was my primary way of staying in touch with family and friends around the world. You don't need Facebook for that. Write down a list of the people you care about and contact them with some frequency, at least on their birthday.
- em-bee 2y agocontact them how? they don't read email (if they even have an address), they are not using any other messenger. and my introvert nature makes phonecalls very uncomfortable. at best i could send SMS, but that is not suitable (and across continents expensive) for real conversations. also none of the alternatives allow me to keep up with what's happening with them because they only post it on facebook. and there is at least one project that is important to me that i can't participate in without a facebook account because it is coordinated only there. in general, reaching someone through other ways than their preferred channel only works if both sides are willing to do so. very often, especially with non-technical people that is simply not the case. you can replace facebook with any other tool that is used for messaging, and you will find cases where not being able to access that tool would be a problem. most of my contacts are only reachable through one specific messaging tool. the reality is that we can no longer allow any of these companies to control who does and who doesn't get access. getting access must be a right that mustn't be denied to you if you choose to use it. or, better, all major messaging systems should be made interoperable so that you can stay in touch without needing an account there.
- squigz 2y ago> the reality is that we can no longer allow any of these companies to control who does and who doesn't get access. getting access must be a right that mustn't be denied to you if you choose to use it. A right to an account on web platforms? Okay... does that apply to every single platform, or only those of a certain size? What size? What about people using the platform to spam, harass, or threaten other users? > or, better, all major messaging systems should be made interoperable so that you can stay in touch without needing an account there. This is a far more reasonable take, though still not probably viable.
- cratermoon 2y agoI'm going to go out on a limb and say that if this person's efforts at helping people use Facebook less is materially affected by loss of access to Facebook, they weren't really helping people use it less.
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- im3w1l 2y agoHe is clearly saying that the goal was to help people reap the benefits of facebook usage while limiting the drawbacks. The goal was never to get people to quit altogether.
- garciasn 2y agoI highly suggest you unfollow everyone on LinkedIn as well; the result is the same: nothing in your feed and no ads, but everything is still available to you—like searching for jobs and looking at profiles/messaging folks. I don’t have a tool that does this for you, but it’s definitely the way to go. Literally when I go into LinkedIn it’s just a completely blank page; it’s fucking glorious. —- I deleted Twitter during the 2008 election cycle and I “disabled” my FB acct (allowing me access to Messenger and Marketplace; the former only used for the latter) and it’s been amazing. This is how you deal with these companies: by using their services without the noise and advertising that keeps them afloat.
- NayamAmarshe 2y ago> you unfollow everyone on LinkedIn as well No need, You can use the SocialFocus extension to hide the feed :)
- victor9000 2y agoYeah, you can also do this with a custom filter if you already have an ad blocker like UBlock Origin
- dotcoma 2y agoHow do you do this with Ublock Origin? Thanks!
- victor9000 2y agohttps://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/ublock-origin-custom-filters.html https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/ublock-origin-custom-fil...
- dotcoma 2y agoThanks! Do you know if customising Ublock Origin makes you more likely to stand out, and so easier to fingerprint ?
- archerx 2y agoFacebook has been making itself unusable, I just want to check up on what my friends and family are up too but I just get a flood on unsolicited spam from pages I’m not interested in or want to see. Facebooks algorithm for their wall is one of the worst. Even if I X the spam posts it find other crap to spam with so I just gave up and visit FB every other week instead of daily for a quick update. Instagram is suffering the same fate, it doesn’t show my posts to my followers, really wants to show me post that have nothing to do with my interest and I’m getting a lot of likes from bots. I noticed my friends don’t post to it as much anymore so it’s feeling like a ghost town. I have an experiment going on, I have an art account on insta and X, every night I post the same image to both and X gives a lot more views and engagement than Instagram for the same content. Also it seems like the X algorithm is smarter than FB/instagram because it shows me similar art to what I post and keeps the correct vibe. Insta/FB show me random crap I couldn’t care less about.
- mrinfinitiesx 2y agoMade a post down below. I scroll for like two minutes before seeing anything local in my town. I only use it to volunteer at places in my town, and it literally showed over 100+ suggested/Follow/sponsored things, the addon I used collapses it all. Dead internet theory. AI generated stuff. Busted algorithms, and attention-soul sucking 'pull me in' psychological warfare ad induced stuff. We need to reclaim our sanity from doom scroll/infinite scrolling. I have it in my /etc/hosts file to be blocked unless I'm at a computer that requires me to log in.
- archerx 2y agoI don’t know what is going on at Meta but they are killing their cash cow. I don’t mind the Youtube algorithm, it used to be better but it’s still good enough. I don’t use Youtube with an account so I have gotten good at “training” it and getting it to show stuff I’m actually interested in. The X algorithm is not bad either, if I post art related stuff it will only show me art related stuff.
- mrinfinitiesx 2y ago
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- xyst 2y agoI would perceive a life ban from Zuckerberg a badge of honor. Congrats to this person! Personally, would have just open sourced the project. Then Zuck would have to spend engineering time (and employ more people) to “combat” these types of usability hacks which reduce their bottom line. Similar to how YouTube is in a perpetual battle with the entire world over ad blocking on the platform. Personally, I just stopped using FB/IG all together. Much happier. And relationships are much more meaningful. No more filters/ai/thinly veiled bullshit/“curated ads”.
- im3w1l 2y agoI'm sure University of Neuchâtel would be appreciative if you actually did.
- underseacables 2y agoUnfortunately, it's not from Zuckerberg, it's from some underpaid, Third World content moderator churning through posts and accounts with only the most minimal of thought.
- gitaarik 2y agoIndeed, why doesn't this guy just open source it. The community will take care of it staying available.
- farceSpherule 2y ago[flagged]
- cool_dude85 2y agoThe real "cry me a river" here is for the FB terms of service - someone violated them to produce a popular product people like!
- mandmandam 2y agoYes. Facebook - and Whatsapp and maybe Instagram too - need to be reframed as a global public utility rather than a private enterprise. It would take some doing... But they're too big, too powerful, and too spooky to be allowed continue as they are. Think of it like nationalizing water or rail services - expensive and complicated at first, but ever so worth it in the end. "But that's not fair to the founders and shareholders!" - Fuck 'em. Facebook has done so much damage: amplifying misinformation, polarizing societies, warping our most vulnerable minds, selling scams, etc. Shareholders ought to count their blessings they haven't been held responsible yet. They made their money - enough.
- hyperhopper 2y agoWhy are you bootlicking for trillion dollar corporations? I would think on a forum this technical you could realize that the dynamic of and the philosophy behind these TOS's is not laudable.
- firesteelrain 2y agoI have noticed a phenomenon where people I am connected to on FB rarely post anymore. I have a ton of history on there but I mostly use it for the groups which is a very useful feature since I am in a few ham radio groups, my local HOA and community groups. I can’t stand Nextdoor so I don’t use it for similar purposes. Anyways, it appears FB is on a slow decline.
- more_corn 2y agoAren’t they helping you in your goal?
- zahlman 2y ago> These demands seemed outrageous to me. They also seemed outrageous to lawyers I consulted from the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, and in the U.K. But my options were limited. I’m a U.K. resident, so a lawsuit against Facebook would probably have played out in a U.K. court, where I would have been personally on the hook for Facebook’s litigation costs if I lost. Facebook is a trillion-dollar company. Seems like this could have been answered by releasing the source code? Someone else could remake and distribute the app; and if Facebook didn't like that, they'd have to be the ones to file a lawsuit.
- MichaelZuo 2y agoThe author is exaggerating the risk, even if Facebook goes all the way, via hiring the most expensive gold plated Magic circle teams, and wins, the judge wouldn’t assign 100% of the inflated costs to the author. Of course they could still be on the hook for normal costs relative to the actual workload imposed (i.e. what the median law firm would charge), but that’s a potential consequence for any lawsuit whatsoever in the UK. Or any other ‘loser pays’ jurisdiction.
- mynameisvlad 2y ago> Of course they could still be on the hook for normal costs relative to the actual workload imposed (i.e. what the median law firm would charge), but that’s a potential consequence for any lawsuit whatsoever in the UK. Or any other ‘loser pays’ jurisdiction. That still seems like too much for a free tool that they are getting no revenue or monetization from, and the author seems to agree.
- mbirth 2y agoAnd a tool that uses freely available features on the Facebook website without circumventing anything. It merely automates something everyone can do themselves.
- zeroonetwothree 2y agoI’m not sure what you expect when you violate the terms of service.
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- splawn 2y agoI was banned for life for pointing out how the Tuttle Twins choice of pricing $14.88 and $88.88 for their children's book bundle sale could be perceived as hate speech.
- 0xTJ 2y agoI'd enjoy watching Facebook make a miserable decline into obscurity. In the last couple years I've moved away from using Facebook Messenger to keep in touch with people, and I don't remember the last time I've opened Facebook "proper". The only reason I'd even consider opening it is for Marketplace.
- timbit42 2y agoDo you use something else that isn't owned by Meta?
- FpUser 2y agoI do have FB account to communicate with couple of people which happens like once a year. Other than that, the further I stay from Zuck concoctions the better I feel.
- jgalt212 2y agoEveryone says FB is sh*t and unusable, but every quarter their ad revenues go up. So are we wrong, or are the ad buyers wrong? Or is Instagram 80% of their revenues?
- latexr 2y agoThe alternative option is that you’re wrong and not everyone says or thinks that about Facebook. In tech circles, sure. Outside of them, not so much.
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- tedunangst 2y agoAny update three years later? Are you using it less?
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- fitsumbelay 2y agoAfter being a fairly heavy FB user since 2005, in 2012 I decided to remove all of the 400+ Facebook pages I followed after it dawned on me that it was the source of a lot of my news feed garbage. After deleting about 100 pages from my list of followed pages, I notice the last 10 would re-appear. Every 50 or so pages I'd delete from my list -- which to begin with is a purposefully slow and painful UX whether done manually or javascriptically -- 5 or more pages would reappear. It took a while to realize what was happening because it wasn't always 5 or 10, sometimes it was 2 or 4 and the time between occurrences was sometimes so long that I originally assumed I just missed some. Then I noticed some pages got re-listed after a day or so. This got me pretty upset but it was only the beginning. I began making it a daily mission to delete at least 50 pages a day and keep deleting them as often as they came back. It was at this point when pages stopped reappearing and I'd get an alert from the app that went something like "Hey (stop sign emoji) stop! You shouldn't be doing that!" and a bunch of lines about how I'm using the app in a way that's not meant to be, and some vague noise about continuing in such a way may lead to repercussions to functionality and/or my account. What? I'm not supposed to use the delete button on the Pages Followed (or whatever) pop out list? After ignoring these warnings and deleting as much as I could, one day I found the delete functionality would just stop working after deleting 20 or so pages, if at all. My frustration led to me pausing my account for a month or so, then reactivating when I felt motivated to delete more pages until again the functionality would either be limited or completely impossible. Finally I paused my account for 4 years until 2016 when I found I got delete all followed Pages. I was so happy about this I started using FB daily again but not nearly as much as I used to. Funnily enough the same thing happened to me in 2021 on Instagram when I tried to unfollow accounts. That said I've always thought FB had/has the potential to be a public utility as a local-first product. Like, families should have an FB. Your street or the floor of your building should have a FB. Neighborhoods should have a FB.It doesn't even necessarily need to be ad-free, just community oriented. I suppose that's Mastadon's intention but FB does it best IMHO
- throwaway738384 2y agoI find it so interesting that you say that, because I, for a long time, have been trying to manually erase/obfuscate details in my Instagram account—when I go to unlike posts in bulk, after about 40 or 50 of them Instagram gives me an incredibly vague "Something went wrong" error while spouting something about "protecting our community". Even funnier, I did this with my story archive, and it actually hid my entire archive from me after I deleted about 10 of them. Now, I can't access my story archive except through Instagram's "Download Your Information" downloader. It now won't let me delete or even view my past stories. Food for thought.
- nickphx 2y agoI've seen nothing but ads directly promoting malware as "AI" image and video creation tools.. The malware steals credentials and uses the credentials to post similar ads from the compromised accounts. Facebook seems to be doing nothing as all methods of reporting are ineffective.
- nickphx 2y agoHere's a live one now.. https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?active_status=active&ad_type=all&country=US&media_type=all&search_type=page&view_all_page_id=214378761748527 https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?active_status=active&a... virustotal scan of the "installer" -- https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/ba3cdc5190b44da96e5ecb5f39e2cbe3713984dc8062cdab679c759de51500b1 https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/ba3cdc5190b44da96e5ecb5f... If only facebook were held liable for what they allowed to be advertised.
- benatkin 2y agoThe person in the best position to fight the nightmare company that is Facebook is the next Instagram, Oculus, or WhatsApp founder. Please don't sell to Facebook. kthxbai
- bloodyplonker22 2y agoSo TikTok? And it's arguably even more of a "nightmare".
- btmiller 2y agoI currently have 388 videos bookmarked on TikTok all about home design that I used to help guide decision making on my home remodel. I have 389 videos bookmarked about cooking. I’ve never amassed a collection of resources this size on any other platform, both text and video. It’s a really good system for disseminating knowledge that I care about.
- benatkin 2y agoOne word for you: Myanmar
- alex1138 2y agoIt would be so much easier to believe this was a question of incentives ("it's not just/never just One Person At The Company") if Mark Zuckerberg didn't have a history of knowingly stealing from other people and generally being a backstabber People who claim they would say the same thing about "...dumb fucks" because it's dumb to give away information (already pretty spurious, but whatever) seem to miss the other part where he says "If you need any info on people, just ask" Because it sure seems like the pattern of behavior keeps continuing, rather than stopping, as a once young immature person who then learns
- codersfocus 2y agoU.S. law specifically allows programs like OPs to exist. Summary from gypty: The statute you are referring to is likely the *Communications Decency Act (CDA) of 1996*, specifically *Section 230(c)(2)*. Section 230(c)(2) provides immunity to providers and users of an "interactive computer service" for actions taken in good faith to restrict access to or availability of material that the provider or user considers to be obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, excessively violent, harassing, or otherwise objectionable, whether or not such material is constitutionally protected. This includes the development and deployment of programs intended to block or filter malicious software. This section has been crucial in allowing companies to create and distribute tools designed to protect users from harmful or unwanted content, including spam filters, antivirus programs, and parental control software, without the risk of being held liable for the consequences of their actions.
- k__ 2y agoMeta should ban itself from Facebook. 10 years ago, I'd post multiple times a day. Now, I only go there a few times a month to check for events.
- fraboniface 2y agoI created Weavus [1] as a way to take my events away from facebook. It's a social app (mobile only for now) where events are the main element and the home screen shows your upcoming events. The philosophy is no feed, no ads, no addiction, just your real social life. It would have been easier to have users sign up with facebook, but I decided the best thing to do was to be entirely Meta-independent. They will undermine anything that threatens The Feed. The idea is also to merge in a single app many needs of events, like group chats, photo albums, expenses splitting, and I'm planning to add more. I realized groups have similar needs to events, so I added them as well. They're not designed for massive communities though, more like small groups of friends. All of this is stil very early in development and it definitely needs some more work before a Show HN, but we've found it very useful for weekends and holidays already. Consider it an open beta, so feel free to give it a try and give me your honest feedback :) [1] : https://weavus.app https://weavus.app
- cowboylowrez 2y agodidn't look too exciting with firefox
- fraboniface 2y agoCould you elaborate? I'm not a web dev and it's just a landing page in raw HTML/CSS (developed mostly on firefox btw). I intend to improve it but some pointers would be great.
- cowboylowrez 2y agoits fine as a landing page, I don't run smartphone apps tho.
- perihelion_zero 2y ago[flagged]
- firesteelrain 2y agoThe reason he was banned and given a C&D is because it ruins their business model. You are the product.
- underseacables 2y agoIf it weren't for Fluff Busting Purity Facebook would be completely unusable. What I hate most is that it fills my news feed with crap from other people and groups that I have no interest in, and no desire to see. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluff_Busting_Purity https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluff_Busting_Purity
- LadyCailin 2y agoI like the rule about loser paying attorney fees and such, but it should be capped at whatever the loser paid for their fees. That way, if you hire a local lawyer to sue a trillion dollar international corporation, sure, you might lose, but they will have to eat the cost for whatever legal fees they spend above “local lawyer rates” are. If they hire a local lawyer too, then by all means, loser has to pay for that attorney.
- davonbernette 2y ago[dead]
- STEVE-L11 2y ago[dead]
- STEVE-L11 2y ago[dead]