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Show HN: Delete Facebook "friends" you don't actually talk to

8 points by adlaigordon 12y ago

mindstab 12y ago
No I'm not granting an app with no details on how it works from random strangers access to my FB Also I think you misunderstand how some people use facebook. I use it as a long memory, address book, and passive way to keep in touch with a wide crowd. It's value is in that when I met people I can just add them and forget about it until even years down the road I might be like "oh I know a person" and then have easy access to get in touch with them (and even passively gotten to know a bit about them)
- StavrosK 12y ago
  I hate that. Meeting me somewhere years ago doesn't grant you permission to ask me for favors if you've never talked to me in the mean time.
- adlaigordon 12y ago
  How Duster works: http://dusterapp.com/privacy http://dusterapp.com/privacy (Sorry that page is really hacky)
  - mindstab 12y ago
    I can infer from that that I get presented with a choice, but it's not clear (especially on the main go page which is the scariest) that if I click that button it won't just start deleting my friends. You need to make it insanely clear that I'll be presented with a list and I get final say. You are just a recommendation engine, you won't take action.
austenallred 12y ago
This is awesome. But that one extra click is killing me. I'm sure there's a reason for it, but if clicking "dust" would actually remove them instead of bringing up the page where I could remove them, this app would be about 100x more valuable to me.
- adlaigordon 12y ago
  Absolutely. Unfortunately, there is no API call for defriending someone (there's only one for adding someone). So this is the best we could do. Stupid facebook
acheron 12y ago
Because Facebook is the only way to communicate with your friends? If anything, I'm closer to people whom I don't interact with on Facebook, because I am more likely to interact with them in real life. FB is the last resort of interaction. This reminds me of when Facebook used to put up notices like "You haven't talked to [wife] in awhile! Click here to post on her wall!"
jonchang 12y ago
Facebook already has functionality to hide people you don't interact with often on the site: https://www.facebook.com/friends/organize https://www.facebook.com/friends/organize This also has the advantage of avoiding the social awkwardness of "why'd you unfriend me".
- adlaigordon 12y ago
  Duster doesn't tell your friends that you removed them.
BorisMelnik 12y ago
Just installed this on my personal Facebook account. Really don't get how the algorithm works. It showed me one friend where I know I commented on his pics at least 2-3 times in the last week. Noticed at least 10 other people I talk to all the time.
- adlaigordon 12y ago
  If you only interact with people in private messages and not wall posts, photos, etc, than the algorithm won't pick it up ( because we don't get permissions for that)
l0stb0y 12y ago
I'm not going to use this app but I will keep it in mind should an awkward situation arise due to my constant cleaning of my friends list.

8 points by adlaigordon 12y ago

No I'm not granting an app with no details on how it works from random strangers access to my FB Also I think you misunderstand how some people use facebook. I use it as a long memory, address book, and passive way to keep in touch with a wide crowd. It's value is in that when I met people I can just add them and forget about it until even years down the road I might be like "oh I know a person" and then have easy access to get in touch with them (and even passively gotten to know a bit about them)

StavrosK 12y ago
I hate that. Meeting me somewhere years ago doesn't grant you permission to ask me for favors if you've never talked to me in the mean time.
adlaigordon 12y ago
How Duster works: http://dusterapp.com/privacy http://dusterapp.com/privacy (Sorry that page is really hacky)
- mindstab 12y ago
  I can infer from that that I get presented with a choice, but it's not clear (especially on the main go page which is the scariest) that if I click that button it won't just start deleting my friends. You need to make it insanely clear that I'll be presented with a list and I get final say. You are just a recommendation engine, you won't take action.

austenallred 12y ago

This is awesome. But that one extra click is killing me. I'm sure there's a reason for it, but if clicking "dust" would actually remove them instead of bringing up the page where I could remove them, this app would be about 100x more valuable to me.

adlaigordon 12y ago
Absolutely. Unfortunately, there is no API call for defriending someone (there's only one for adding someone). So this is the best we could do. Stupid facebook

acheron 12y ago

Because Facebook is the only way to communicate with your friends? If anything, I'm closer to people whom I don't interact with on Facebook, because I am more likely to interact with them in real life. FB is the last resort of interaction. This reminds me of when Facebook used to put up notices like "You haven't talked to [wife] in awhile! Click here to post on her wall!"

jonchang 12y ago

Facebook already has functionality to hide people you don't interact with often on the site: https://www.facebook.com/friends/organize https://www.facebook.com/friends/organize This also has the advantage of avoiding the social awkwardness of "why'd you unfriend me".

adlaigordon 12y ago
Duster doesn't tell your friends that you removed them.

BorisMelnik 12y ago

Just installed this on my personal Facebook account. Really don't get how the algorithm works. It showed me one friend where I know I commented on his pics at least 2-3 times in the last week. Noticed at least 10 other people I talk to all the time.

adlaigordon 12y ago
If you only interact with people in private messages and not wall posts, photos, etc, than the algorithm won't pick it up ( because we don't get permissions for that)

l0stb0y 12y ago

I'm not going to use this app but I will keep it in mind should an awkward situation arise due to my constant cleaning of my friends list.