11-01-2011, 11:30 AM
Davester,
Facebook is a tool for its users but its users are the tool of Facebook. In my opinion, Facebook uses you as a means to its ends, be it making money, gathering information about you, etc. You'd be a fool to think otherwise. This is not to say I don't have a Facebook account. I have one but actively choose to keep the privacy controls set to the maximum and not use the account. The reason is identity theft.
I got the account after my wife's identity was stolen by a Facebook user. The individual had created an account her name and was impersonating her. The individual literally had a picture and was actively conversing and interacting with other Facebook users. They all thought it was my wife. My wife found out about it accidentally and to say it was shocking is an understatement.
Facebook ignored her requests to take action about it until after we found a way to contact someone there with the authority do deal with it. Fortunately, all this individual did was create a Facebook account in my wife's name and pretended to be her. We're grateful it was all innocuous. But, it could have been much worse. As a result of the situation, my wife and I both created accounts of our own and set then to maximum privacy.
All of our friends and family know we choose not to use Facebook. So, now, if someone(s) starts interacting with them as if he/she is my wife or I, they'll know it's an impostor. We'll immediately take appropriate action to deal with the situation.
Robert
Facebook is a tool for its users but its users are the tool of Facebook. In my opinion, Facebook uses you as a means to its ends, be it making money, gathering information about you, etc. You'd be a fool to think otherwise. This is not to say I don't have a Facebook account. I have one but actively choose to keep the privacy controls set to the maximum and not use the account. The reason is identity theft.
I got the account after my wife's identity was stolen by a Facebook user. The individual had created an account her name and was impersonating her. The individual literally had a picture and was actively conversing and interacting with other Facebook users. They all thought it was my wife. My wife found out about it accidentally and to say it was shocking is an understatement.
Facebook ignored her requests to take action about it until after we found a way to contact someone there with the authority do deal with it. Fortunately, all this individual did was create a Facebook account in my wife's name and pretended to be her. We're grateful it was all innocuous. But, it could have been much worse. As a result of the situation, my wife and I both created accounts of our own and set then to maximum privacy.
All of our friends and family know we choose not to use Facebook. So, now, if someone(s) starts interacting with them as if he/she is my wife or I, they'll know it's an impostor. We'll immediately take appropriate action to deal with the situation.
Robert