4 ms·

I don't get all the Facebook hate. Facebook only knows what you tell it. Put up a profile, don't post too much or at all, don't download the app (use the mobile

by skizm 12y ago

I don't get all the Facebook hate. Facebook only knows what you tell it. Put up a profile, don't post too much or at all, don't download the app (use the mobile version), don't use facebook connect, and don't use any facebook apps. Just use it to keep in touch or get back in touch with people you otherwise would not be able to. Sure, they're like any other company and will relentlessly push for your to share more and do whatever they can get away with to access more of your personal information, but that sort of comes with the territory. They are basically an identity management company after all.

pilif 12y ago
>Facebook only knows what you tell it. Put up a profile, don't post too much or at all, don't download the app (use the mobile version), don't use facebook connect, and don't use any facebook apps. And don't use any websites that use any of Facebooks third-party script embeds or use something like HTTPSwitchboard and make sure you never load anything from any present or future Facebook property. Also don't use any services Facebook has bought or will ever buy (I personally got bitten by WhatsApp and Moves). Sounds easy. Thanks for the advice.
- skizm 12y ago
  Sarcasm aside, you're right. Facebook is now big enough that they can buy your info from other services. I suppose I would just recommend using a throw away email with facebook (one that won't match other services) and making sure you log out when you're done. I mean, if you check facebook semi-regularly there really isn't a need to get email notifications, but if you really want them, you can always forward them from your throwaway. I think that should be enough, right?
  - awj 12y ago
    Does it not sound ridiculous to you that we have to go to these length to prevent Facebook from having information we don't want them to have? The techniques that have been suggested are beyond the understanding, if not the capacity, of probably 90% of internet users. How are they to keep Facebook from knowing about them if they don't want it to?
    - skizm 12y ago
      90% of internet users are willing to trade personal info for the use of facebook.
- aestra 12y ago
  And of course don't be friends with anyone who has you in their contacts then install the facebook mobile app.
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
robert_tweed 12y ago
> Facebook only knows what you tell it. Firstly, that's incorrect. Facebook also knows what other people tell it and what it is able to correlate from other data sources. To be fair to them, they've handled the issue with group photo tagging fairly well, but only after there was uproar about it. They are in the business of collecting and monetising your data. That's fundamentally not in your interests and it's incredibly difficult to stop them from doing it, especially outside the EU. That is why a lot of people hate them.
- skizm 12y ago
  Facebook would know what other people tell it regardless of how much you use it anyway. It is the same with every other online service. Google knows more about you than Facebook. I guess since they provide more value people are less likely to complain.
  - mapleoin 12y ago
    Friends can't tag me in photos on Facebook if I don't have an account.
- carlosdp 12y ago
  Why is it "fundamentally not in my interest" for them to collect and monetize data? That's the price of using the service. Every business needs to get paid somehow.
  - drdeca 12y ago
    They afaik still collect data on people who don't use it. Paying for a service and not recieving the service is I would think "fundamentally not in one's interest". If one then cannot avoid that, then that would probably be potentially irritating. I'm not sure how much they collect from non users though. Don't they get things from cookies on embedded facebook comment forms?
- bgun 12y ago
  > They are in the business of collecting and monetising your data. That's fundamentally not in your interests I hate when phrases like this are thrown about; the collection of your data CAN be very much in your interests, and the monetization thereof makes it free, which is also clearly the preference of most. The fact that everyone I keep in touch with uses the same system has amazing utility for me. Privacy protections are important, but harping on them as if there is no conceivable personal benefit to data collection turns these discussions into partisan bickering that's hard to take seriously.
epochwolf 12y ago
You forgot one thing, facebook knows what your friends tell them.
cliveowen 12y ago
> don't use any facebook apps They buy every even remotely successful app, so it's hard not to.
- skizm 12y ago
  Facebook apps as in apps that are physically on Facebook. Just use a throwaway email for facebook so they can't link your emails when they buy other companies whose apps you use.
  - aestra 12y ago
    You're naive if you think they can't link the accounts.

by skizm 12y ago

pilif 12y ago

>Facebook only knows what you tell it. Put up a profile, don't post too much or at all, don't download the app (use the mobile version), don't use facebook connect, and don't use any facebook apps. And don't use any websites that use any of Facebooks third-party script embeds or use something like HTTPSwitchboard and make sure you never load anything from any present or future Facebook property. Also don't use any services Facebook has bought or will ever buy (I personally got bitten by WhatsApp and Moves). Sounds easy. Thanks for the advice.

skizm 12y ago
Sarcasm aside, you're right. Facebook is now big enough that they can buy your info from other services. I suppose I would just recommend using a throw away email with facebook (one that won't match other services) and making sure you log out when you're done. I mean, if you check facebook semi-regularly there really isn't a need to get email notifications, but if you really want them, you can always forward them from your throwaway. I think that should be enough, right?
- awj 12y ago
  Does it not sound ridiculous to you that we have to go to these length to prevent Facebook from having information we don't want them to have? The techniques that have been suggested are beyond the understanding, if not the capacity, of probably 90% of internet users. How are they to keep Facebook from knowing about them if they don't want it to?
  - skizm 12y ago
    90% of internet users are willing to trade personal info for the use of facebook.
aestra 12y ago
And of course don't be friends with anyone who has you in their contacts then install the facebook mobile app.

deleted 12y ago

[deleted]

robert_tweed 12y ago

> Facebook only knows what you tell it. Firstly, that's incorrect. Facebook also knows what other people tell it and what it is able to correlate from other data sources. To be fair to them, they've handled the issue with group photo tagging fairly well, but only after there was uproar about it. They are in the business of collecting and monetising your data. That's fundamentally not in your interests and it's incredibly difficult to stop them from doing it, especially outside the EU. That is why a lot of people hate them.

skizm 12y ago
Facebook would know what other people tell it regardless of how much you use it anyway. It is the same with every other online service. Google knows more about you than Facebook. I guess since they provide more value people are less likely to complain.
- mapleoin 12y ago
  Friends can't tag me in photos on Facebook if I don't have an account.
carlosdp 12y ago
Why is it "fundamentally not in my interest" for them to collect and monetize data? That's the price of using the service. Every business needs to get paid somehow.
- drdeca 12y ago
  They afaik still collect data on people who don't use it. Paying for a service and not recieving the service is I would think "fundamentally not in one's interest". If one then cannot avoid that, then that would probably be potentially irritating. I'm not sure how much they collect from non users though. Don't they get things from cookies on embedded facebook comment forms?
bgun 12y ago
> They are in the business of collecting and monetising your data. That's fundamentally not in your interests I hate when phrases like this are thrown about; the collection of your data CAN be very much in your interests, and the monetization thereof makes it free, which is also clearly the preference of most. The fact that everyone I keep in touch with uses the same system has amazing utility for me. Privacy protections are important, but harping on them as if there is no conceivable personal benefit to data collection turns these discussions into partisan bickering that's hard to take seriously.

epochwolf 12y ago

You forgot one thing, facebook knows what your friends tell them.

cliveowen 12y ago

> don't use any facebook apps They buy every even remotely successful app, so it's hard not to.

skizm 12y ago
Facebook apps as in apps that are physically on Facebook. Just use a throwaway email for facebook so they can't link your emails when they buy other companies whose apps you use.
- aestra 12y ago
  You're naive if you think they can't link the accounts.