I’m reposting a note from a friend’s Facebook page here because I think it’s a fantastic and insightful critique of where social networks can go horribly wrong.  It’s something to seriously think about just when you start to get too comfortable in your insulated little world of quizzes, pokes, and flair.  Enjoy…and share!

Dear Facebook,

Why are you letting companies be “users” on Facebook in violation of your own Terms of Use? It’s annoying and it’s dangerous and it makes Facebook look more like MySpace! Companies and entities should be using Groups and Fan Pages as that is their designed purpose.

All your privacy settings with all their infinite settings are great, but how do I know that adding “XYZ Company” as a “friend” won’t expose my phone number, my address, even my email, etc.? It’s a lot of work to tweak the privacy settings. How do I even know the person behind the “friend?”

Your Terms of Use state clearly:
- “You understand that…the Service and the Site are available for your personal, non-commercial use only.
- “…you agree not to use the Service or the Site to…register for a User account on behalf of any group or entity”
- “…you agree not to use the Service or the Site to…upload, post, transmit, share or otherwise make available any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, solicitations, promotional materials, ‘junk mail, ‘spam,’ ‘chain letters,’ ‘pyramid schemes,’ or any other form of solicitation;”

As your Terms of Use state: “Facebook Pages are special profiles used solely for commercial, political, or charitable purposes.” So why not make them use Facebook Pages and don’t let them use User pages in violation of the Terms of Use?

I do NOT want my Facebook to look like my MySpace (check out this actual screenshot of my MySpace bulletins I just took!).

So please, clean out the trash. It’s a social network, not an opt-in-for-advertising.

Thank you and have a pleasant day.

-Thomas

Note to my friends: Don’t add non-friends to your list of friends. Don’t encourage them. Most importantly: don’t let them see your private information! And feel free to post this note to your profile to pass it on.

Many thanks, Thomas!