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This is a horrible idea for app developers. If someone wants to sign up for my app, but doesn't want to create a real user account with an email address and per

This is a horrible idea for app developers. If someone wants to sign up for my app, but doesn't want to create a real user account with an email address and personally identifiable information, then I don't have a real customer relationship or anything of value. So, why even make them log in? I guess I just don't see the point of requiring a user account if it isn't adding value to either the user or the app creator. One more reason not to use Facebook as a login mechanism I guess.

xahrepap 12y ago
Because, it's a lot easier to just sign up using your Facebook account rather than trying to remember yet another password. But I don't want every little site to know my personal information. It's none of their business. I just want to log in quickly. Logging in to a site provides more value than just sharing personal information. For me, I rarely, if ever, want a site to know my personal information. That's why I rarely use Facebook login service. Now I will.
- ebbflowgo 12y ago
  I agree with this.
- gtremper 12y ago
  Agreed, however, there are a few pieces of information that I find useful for Facebook to share. Namely my profile picture and sometimes my friends list. Though gravitar somewhat solves the profile picture problem.
morgante 12y ago
> So, why even make them log in? As a programmer, I surely hope you don't think the only purpose of user accounts is to gain personal information. Hacker News does not ask for personal information. Does that mean we shouldn't have to log in on HN?
- libria 12y ago
  > Hacker News does not ask for personal information. Does that mean we shouldn't have to log in on HN? I think he's looking at it from a product/sales lead perspective. HN isn't trying to sell us anything.
dragonwriter 12y ago
> I guess I just don't see the point of requiring a user account if it isn't adding value to either the user or the app creator. It adds plenty of value for the user: they get a logon to the app which allows them to keep information across sessions, while not providing the app vendor any information unnecessary to that function. It provides a authentication as the same person without providing identification of who that person is. Now, obviously, anonymous login provides less value to app developers who are using using logins to harvest personal information from users, but then, that's a plus for users.
- libria 12y ago
  > using logins to harvest personal information from users Specifically, he wants some contact information so he can follow up with a lead, which I think is reasonable. Your average customer may not have time to put much effort into a product/service search and a (relevant, informative) follow-up email can be very helpful. Ideally you do want what's best for the user, but if more revenue is coming in from the old, non-anonymous method, adoption of this one may be slow or limited. Now if the app creator has a way to push a message back to the user (fb message or something) without knowing who they are, that might be a good compromise.

xahrepap 12y ago

Because, it's a lot easier to just sign up using your Facebook account rather than trying to remember yet another password. But I don't want every little site to know my personal information. It's none of their business. I just want to log in quickly. Logging in to a site provides more value than just sharing personal information. For me, I rarely, if ever, want a site to know my personal information. That's why I rarely use Facebook login service. Now I will.

ebbflowgo 12y ago
I agree with this.
gtremper 12y ago
Agreed, however, there are a few pieces of information that I find useful for Facebook to share. Namely my profile picture and sometimes my friends list. Though gravitar somewhat solves the profile picture problem.

morgante 12y ago

> So, why even make them log in? As a programmer, I surely hope you don't think the only purpose of user accounts is to gain personal information. Hacker News does not ask for personal information. Does that mean we shouldn't have to log in on HN?

libria 12y ago
> Hacker News does not ask for personal information. Does that mean we shouldn't have to log in on HN? I think he's looking at it from a product/sales lead perspective. HN isn't trying to sell us anything.

dragonwriter 12y ago

> I guess I just don't see the point of requiring a user account if it isn't adding value to either the user or the app creator. It adds plenty of value for the user: they get a logon to the app which allows them to keep information across sessions, while not providing the app vendor any information unnecessary to that function. It provides a authentication as the same person without providing identification of who that person is. Now, obviously, anonymous login provides less value to app developers who are using using logins to harvest personal information from users, but then, that's a plus for users.

libria 12y ago
> using logins to harvest personal information from users Specifically, he wants some contact information so he can follow up with a lead, which I think is reasonable. Your average customer may not have time to put much effort into a product/service search and a (relevant, informative) follow-up email can be very helpful. Ideally you do want what's best for the user, but if more revenue is coming in from the old, non-anonymous method, adoption of this one may be slow or limited. Now if the app creator has a way to push a message back to the user (fb message or something) without knowing who they are, that might be a good compromise.