@tech

If you’re on Facebook (hereafter referred to as fb), and these days who isn’t, you’ve no doubt heard some rumblings about privacy. Or rather the loss of it.  Perhaps you’ve noticed how the site just seems to know everything about you, no matter where you go on the web.  Is this okay?

The abuses by fb on privacy and especially content ownership rights grows worse by the week.  Not to mention the creepy factor of how no matter what site you’re visiting fb seems to know about it.  This is partly due to browser cookies (a short of memory for your browser), which you can disable, but it also will affect how other web sites function that might not be so appealing.  Another larger piece of this data puzzle is created from the things you post and like on fb.  Even things your friends and family post come in to play.  And now every store web site wants you to post and boast about your latest purchase on fb.

And what about all those photos and creative writing and your music that you upload to share with others?  It all becomes the property of fb.

In the beginning (of fb that is), privacy was king.  They would never use your data against you.  Ever.  Your content was yours too.  However fb has seen fit to violate this in the name of advertising and enhanced user experience.

Is this right? Of course it isn’t.  At least not ethically.  However as a user, in order to have an account you need to agree to these terms that allow all of this.

The downside of knowing this is we have all grown so dependent on fb to keep in touch with those we care about.  We rely on it to share items of interest.  We can’t contemplate life without it now.  Where we once wrote letters, or later made phone calls, we now just spend our time on fb.  And why not, it is a more efficient use of our time.  Phone calls and letter writing takes far more time than any of us choose to spend.

Getting Free

There’s a growing number of articles online discussing options for getting off fb.  As of this writing there is no direct alternative or replacement.  A close substitute might be which has free and paid options.  It also seems to be aimed more at special interest groups or businesses, but it has possibilities because it’s privacy policy is solid and in the user’s favor.  Another site is , yet they allow you to use your fb login so I’m suspicious of their privacy policies with having ties to fb.

Another option is to post ‘status updates’ using Twitter, photos using one of the many services out there for that, and then have a blog for articles and other creative content (which you can have freely at ).  There are also plugins available for your WordPress blog that will help you tie all of these things together.

Of course good luck in getting everyone you’re friends with on fb to sign up for another site, or to check your blog, and then to participate.  There’s the rub.  fb is so ingrained in everyone’s lives now who can fathom not being on it?  It’s a hard sell to be certain.  How much freedom do we have to lose before we’re willing to change from what feels comfy?

Why Jump Ship?

Unfortunately, the content we’ve already posted on fb is out of our control forever more.  But we can prevent any more content from falling under their control by simply not posting any more.  And therein lies an excellent reason.  Add to that getting free of fb tracking you all over the web, and their policies of turning over info on you to the ever-growing NSA, and I think we need look no further for reasons why.  It’s just making the effort and sticking to it.

I’m going to attempt a shift in this direction over the next few months.  My first step is by linking my Twitter feed to this blog (which is hosted on my server for content control), and making an effort to use it more, and eventually, instead of status updates on fb.  I may for a time tie my Twitter feed to my fb account as well, so there is only one method of updates I need to worry with.  I’m hoping to eventually settle on a photo service of some sort to tie in with this blog also, and stop posting photo on fb completely.  Baby steps for sure.  But I think it’s time.

A Final Word and Shameless Plug

If you’d like to consider doing the same, I can host a blog for you, as this one is.  The template for this blog and many of the widgets I use I’ve modified for my purpose.  This is my profession and I can help you do the same.