I’m Back on Facebook, but I Still Hate It

After some time without Facebook, I’ve become quite happy without it. However, it’s my birthday next week and I’m headed to Seattle for the weekend and later on next week, we’re planning a party for the Awesome Foundation (which is GO – we have 10 trustees and a project, I’m so excited – expect more news this week).

What does any of that have to do with Facebook? Well I know some people in Seattle, but don’t have their email address. Ditto for people I know and will want to invite to the AF party – I don’t have their email, or their phone no. because for the first year I was in Ottawa, I didn’t have a cell phone. Aside – does anyone else find that people don’t really give out contact information anymore? They just say, “Oh I’m on Facebook, you’re on Facebook – right?”.

So I reactivated my Facebook profile and then went through and hid most of my information, and checked (and double checked) my privacy settings. Now Facebook is trying to take over the entire internet, I was trying to stop them from sending my personal data everywhere, and I managed the opt out bit (I think). What I couldn’t find, though, was the bit that stops my friends from sending my personal data out and about even with these instructions. Is it a coincidence that after stuff like this is published there are some subtle changes in the UI?

So I have a BSc (hons) in Computer Science and most of a masters… and I cannot fathom the Facebook privacy settings. Worse, even the one that I think I found I can’t be sure of.

So I’m back on Facebook, but this time it’s more in search of an exit strategy.