What Happens in Facebook…Can Be Seen By The Police!

Facebook, that site that I used to waste about 30 minutes a day on is about to be attacked from every corner. I’m sure you are familiar with that ever present and once very popular commercial for Las Vegas that goes

” What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas”.

Well if it were Facebook’s commercial, perhaps a more fitting wording for the commercial would go -

“What Happens in Facebook, Can Be Seen by the Police” or

“What Happens in Facebook, will embarrass you for buying that book or video on some sexual topic!
Or maybe
“What Happens in Vegas, will clue the world in on your love of porn, or of that surprise that will never happen now.”

What I am speaking of is Facebook’s recent Application and arrangement whereby merchants such as Amazon can sign up and your buys and transactions will be told to all of your ‘friends’. Hundreds and hundreds and even thousands of other merchants ranging from Jewelry stores to ones that sell some adult toys and more will now join as well. What merchant wouldn’t want all of your neighbors and friends knowing what you just bought and where. They know they will make more money, and they don’t care since your privacy matters not!

Techcrunch on this very topic said:

When news hit last week that Facebook was publishing user information gathered from third party sites (like ecommerce purchases) and publishing in the news feed, my assumption was it would quickly blow over. Facebook is continuously pushing the envelope with new features, and there always seems to be short term backlash when they try something new.

Guess what I and you can predict very shortly

Facebook users will be shocked when their ‘net friend’ asks them why are they buying that book on E.D. ( Erectile Dysfunction) or perhaps one on your love of Shoes and your shoe fetish. Don’t laugh, it is coming and all of your neighbors will be notified of these things unless you understand how this works.

Want to get your wife a surprise gift? - well it will not be a surprise if you have any of your friends or even your wife listed as a friend in Facebook. Are you thinking of the ramifications now of Facebook’s whole Opt Out and Opt In Cop Out?

Opting out is such a cop out for Facebook

Up until just a few days ago Facebook was actually going to force you to Opt Out in order for this to not happen. In other words all of your friends would have seen all of your purchases on any websites that make deals with Facebook. What utter BS is it to tell us all that in order for our ‘friends’ to not see what we are buying, as more and more merchants sign up for the service with Facebook and all are seeing Green. I’m so disgusted that I think it is really the time to say -

Let’s all Opt Out of Facebook!

When companies reach a certain size they all seem to lose touch with their users or customers or clients. Facebook is no different and I have had enough as has thousands and perhaps soon millions who are about to be surprised that they don’t have any control over what they purchase not being seen by all of your ‘friend’ - even outside of Facebook.

How will you know what merchant signs up with them? I’m sure we have all gone on sites and maybe ordered things that we don’t want the neighbor next door ( who happens to be on our ‘friend’ list after bugging the hell out of us to accept them) Do we all now need to start dropping off those dozens of friends ( or hundreds for some) and fast? Should we be worried? Do you want all of your Facebook ‘friends’ knowing where and what you purchase? Are you at the very least in agreement with me that this whole thing from this point on should only be voluntary and stay volunatry. Facebook relented to public pressure ( see article) and now you can ‘opt’in’ for the pleasure of letting others know every move you make on the net.

That reminds me of all of the damned spam I get for a certain body part’s enlargment, or this and that that all have an opt-out button on the bottom - as If I even Opted in in the first place! This was Facebook to you the user just a few days ago -

You are Opted-in whether you want to be or not and your ‘friends’ will know of your purchases unless you ‘Opt Out’.

What still bothers me is they were going ahead with this stupid little plan to invade my and your privacy. Now it will be yet another ‘opt’in’ feature that you have to voluntarily click. I really had enough of the offers, the flyers, the pain in the you know what’s bothering me to be their friend. I quit MySpace and now it’s time to do the same ( at least for me) with Facebook.

This is what it is all about, no matter what anyone else tells you.

I don’t know about the rest of you but to constantly be bothered with all of the offers really has boiled over for me. Are you going to even remember if you do in fact opt in, and in a month you buy something that maybe you don’t want to share? You will have to remember to not complete that purchase before running back to Facebook and un-checking the opt in button. I don’t know about many of you but I would forget and so will the millions of others out there who use Facebook to network, but don’t analyze every damned detail of the inner workings and policies at all times.

Just think…

What will happen when a neighbor learns of your purchase of a book on growing marijuana, and then thinks they smell something. Can police knock on your door using Facebook as proof that something is up? We all know how a cop can almost do anything if they say they ’smell’ something. There are cases all over the United States where a mere ’smell’ has allowed searches of motor vehicles, homes and your own person. I know this is stretching a bit but stranger things have happened and if nosy neighbors who maybe you forgot to delete as friends see you buy a book or product, things can happen very easily.

Privacy no longer exists, well Let’s get it back!

Not only have I found myself to waste so much time on Facebook every day, but being inundated with offers and this application and that has made me now call it quits. Cold turkey, no more Facebook for me. Thousands are joining me and opting out of Facebook until maybe this company learns to once again respect their members.

If you want to let everyone know that you just bought some Viagra, or some sexy lingerie, go ahead and Opt In to lose your privacy. I’m all for freedom and if you want to voluntarily let everyone know what kind of underwear or movies that you buy, go right ahead.

I’m so private that I don’t even want you knowing what sites I visit.

Facebook, it was nice while it lasted, you can take your great size and popularity and offer upon offer upon flyer upon annoyance left and right. As for me, I am taking back my 30 minutes a day and never looking back. Anyone else feel the same?

Related: How Do You Out ‘Google’ Google? Digg a little!