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... participation in FB is voluntary. Facebook is used as the exclusive sign-on system for various services besides Facebook itself. For instance, Spotify uses
by wes-exp 14y ago
... participation in FB is voluntary.
Facebook is used as the exclusive sign-on system for various services besides Facebook itself. For instance, Spotify uses it, and last I checked it is not possible to use Spotify at all without using Facebook.
If Facebook continues to grow, the consequences of not using Facebook could be more severe than at present. It's a classic example of network effects.
Once something becomes a necessity, such as telephone or internet, I think you have a strong case to say that even though using it is technically voluntary, the price of not using it is so high that most people have no choice.
Is Facebook at that level of necessity today? Not for me, but maybe it is for some people.
- AdamFernandez 14y agoTechnically voluntary, is still very much voluntary. As is using Spotify, or any other service that requires a Facebook login. I disagree with the philosophy that true online identity is better for all, but also disagree that Facebook should be forced to do this. People have other choices, and had other choices while Facebook was growing. People chose the 'true' identity social network long before it was the dominant player in the space. People kept choosing it before the super network effects kicked in.
- chimeracoder 14y agoAnd when your ISP starts requiring you to sign in with Facebook via a captive portal before you can browse the Internet at home, will you still continue to "choose" the "true identity social network"?
- lostlogin 14y agoI have never used Facebook and signed up to Spotify yesterday with no problemss.
- ok_craig 14y agoWhy is the burden on Facebook to provide anonymity and not the providers of essential services to provide alternative means of registration?
- deleted 14y ago[deleted]
- polemic 14y agoPerhaps the German government is attacking this from the wrong angle then. It's not that Facebook should require psuedo-anonymous access, but rather, services that rely on Facebook should allow psuedo-anonymous access. For example, Spotify should not exclusively rely on Facebook, as a non-anonymous access provider.