Bitcoin Forum

Here's what my position of Facebook used to be: giving all this information to one company is unethical and I should never do it. But as time passes, it becomes increasingly evident how hypocritical my position is. After all, I have a Google account, and that is even more information in one place, and I have a Microsoft account which is pretty hefty too. Although I support decentralization, this position is becoming increasingly difficult to defend. My personal friends have urged me to sign up for Facebook numerous times, and I think it is time to reconsider my position. But I remain indecisive.

So I ask: should I do it?

(P.S.: Obviously, this isn't the most important thing going on right now. I don't expect Facebook to be around in a few years, and even if I decide to join I probably will not use it to much extent either. I know that it can be extremely damaging to employment chances, but on the other hand it can also help things. So either way, my life isn't going to change.)

Sure, why not? Just don't submit to FB any personal info you feel uncomfortable about submitting, easy as.

I'm here on FB (http://www.facebook.com/nobbynobbynoob), if you'd like to add me/subscribe. :)

The situation isn't hypothetical. Facebook is like a walking profile that you fill out with intimate details for alphabet agencies to snoop upon. If you have one, sterilize it or make sure you only post what you don't mind others seeing, even if it is on "private". That said, I am on Facebook, but I post only what I want others to read on any level.

don't do it man.. trust me, you'll be harvesting crops from your virtual farm in no time.

LOL, I blocked Farmville aeons ago, problem solved. :) I did like Mafia Wars for a little while, however.

Nobody under 40 should use FB. Wait until you already have no life.

The irony here is that it was originally a college thing...

To OP: No. Not just no, but Hell No.

Apparently FB is really addictive, but none of my friends actually use it all that much. I don't think it's as addictive as people say.

No. By joining Facebook, you become a whore. Literally. By joining Facebook, you authorize Facebook to sell you (https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/opinion/sunday/facebook-is-using-you.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0). And yet, joining the behemoth is becoming more and more inevitable (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2184658/Is-joining-Facebook-sign-youre-psychopath-Some-employers-psychologists-say-suspicious.html). For anyone that already uses Facebook, you can see how much you're worth to Facebook (https://goprivate.abine.com/). Also, here's some recommended reading.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2216675/So-worth-Google-Facebook-New-browser-add-gives-users-estimate-free-web-services-making-personal-data.html (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2216675/So-worth-Google-Facebook-New-browser-add-gives-users-estimate-free-web-services-making-personal-data.html)

That was my view as well, but I'm beginning to think of it as hypocritical. After all, I have a google account and those are tracked on virtually any site with adsense. Facebook can't be anywhere near as bad, right?

I'd say it's about equal. Facebook tracks about 70-75% of all the sites I visit in total. Of course, I use Adblock and Ghostery, so it doesn't make much difference to me. It's all about personal principle.

I have two seperate facebook accounts. One has my real name and face and its only "friends" are co-workers, close family members, and a few people I went to high school with. The other has my favorite internet pseudonym, the same profile image that I use as an avatar image here, and absolutwly no "friends" in common with the other account. Needless to say, the more anonymous account gets much more use but still contains no identifying information.

I am probably in a unique situation, however, in that my circle of online relationships almost never overlap with my RL ones.