We have all read and written about Facebook and it’s gorilla-like privacy tactics. They have repeatedly changed settings and privacy controls for their own benefit. Many users have been vocal and actually thought about the privacy issues and potential downside risks. Some users have thought about digital responsibility for the first time. Employers, insurance companies, marketers, law enforcement agencies potentially all have easy access to almost everything on your Facebook pages. Facebook’s privacy controls have been confusing and I have pretty much lost count on how many times the settings have changed in the past year.
So why do Facebook users stay around? It’s easy to figure out!
- Its the #1 site on the web 540,000,000 unique visitors; 35.2% reach; 570,000,000,000 pages views. So with these type of numbers where are your more likely to have more friends, Facebook or …?
- Users have invested too much time and labor on their pages. Starting over would be a lot of work. Would all your friends be there? You can only leave if your friends go with you.
- There is no real competition to Facebook. The garden is kind of walled off, even with the open privacy settings. You are kind of stuck.
- Lack of privacy is good for business. Facebook’s business users are not in it for privacy. They are here for a new level of business engagement. They won’t leave unless you do.
- Facebook is trying to listen. They say they are now giving us better control of our user and privacy settings. Time will tell.
- There are no 12-step programs currently available to get off Facebook. I’m not sure if social networks are damaging to your health? It’s not a far reach to other addictions. Smoking, drugs, overeating, etc.
- Everything in life is a trade-off. Actions and consequences. Agreeing to Facebook’s EULA is the trade off. The benefits of being networked on Facebook outweigh the forfeit of some of your privacy rights. That is the bottom line.
- If we quit Facebook… how would our sophomore year roommate find us 20 years later? And all those old girlfriend stories?
- Where are you going to go? Twitter is definitely not Facebook. LinkedIn, YouTube, MySpace, Friendster ? I don’t think so.
- Bad day for a Facebook exodus! “Quit Facebook Day” was this past Monday, Memorial Day. 33,000 users reportedly quit. It may have been a more effective protest had users been indoors on Monday and had the Facebook execs not addressed some of the issues earlier in the week.
You and 400 million others can not quit. You may be in it for the long haul. What would Facebook (or any other dominant site) need to do to make us flee?
