Goodbye facebook, I won`t be back........

[Chris_Kn]

What's "Facebook"?? Can I live without it? Seems like some can't live with it.

 

[classic33]

I use it to keep in touch with family, who are all over the world.
Even though my 'friends' list numbers less than 50, I still wish some days I didn't have it!
The thing I hate most are the cryptic posts...FFS, say what you want to say and stop fannying about!

See I started something then.

 

[Sara_H]

I wouldn't touch it.

A few years ago a relative of Mrs SJ with a sensitive occupation got involved in a very public incident which made the papers and the TV news. She had to contact everyone she knew on FB pleading with them to remove any photographs they'd posted of her as the press were keenly interested in getting some.

No matter how ordinary a life you may be leading, you never know when you may inadvertently be thrown into the public spotlight through an event beyond your control..

I'm a bit worried about that - I have a sensitive job, and my security settings are quite tight but as I have an unusual name its very easy to find me on facebook.
Not only that, but if you google my name the third entry is a link to comments I've made on public facebook pages.
I'd decided to change my name to a pseudonym on facebook but I've already had the maximum number of name changes and have to provide official evidence of a name change.
I'm a bit loathe to deactivate my account and start again as their are years worth of tagged photo's etc, and I do find Facebook a useful tool for keeping in touch with friends far and wide.

 

[Sara_H]

There's a "facebook for business" called LinkedIn, I'm sure some CCers have it.

I looked at it as business contacts were sending me requests to join. Basically you put your employment history on there, skills etc and, in theory, you use this to build a network that you can then leverage to help your employment prospects, business etc etc

The reality is it's useless and actually is really dangerous. For example, I can look at the employee of a competitor. Take a quick look at his contacts and, surprise, surprise, there are contacts from employees of his customers and suppliers. So I can immediately start to access these. Idiots

My OH has an account on a social media site for medical professionals involved in research. I call it Nerdbook.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

As @nickyboy says, LinkedIn is far more useless, annoying and intrusive. I got rid of my account about a year ago.

Facebook, for all its well-publicised problems, actually performs a useful service. A couple of my colleagues have made their names with research and claims that we are 'the product' of Facebook, but it's actually not anywhere near as simple as that. The thing is that you have to learn how to make FB work how you want it and that takes some time - as with any technology.

But it can get addictive. At one point I had well over 500 'friends', most of whom I actually had only a passing acquaintance with and no interest in. So a couple of months ago, I culled the list, reducing it to around 150 people: most those I had actually met and liked, some family members, and colleagues whose work and comments I find interesting. I only very occasionally will add another and refuse all unsolicited requests for 'friendship'. And I keep it quite sectioned, posting work stuff only in the closed group that I'm a member of, and only allowing friends to see most of what I post. I also have a little app which stops most FB spam. I don't list my date of birth, place of residence, relationships or anything like that.

As a result, I get very little spam, almost no stupid posts and family pictures only from those families I'm actually interested in. It works for me. If FB get some marketing capital off that, I really don't mind. But judging from the ads I get, when I occasionally bother to look at them, they don't even seem to realise that I'm married and have a son, so their surveillance algorithms can't be that impressive.

 

[JMAG]

The reality is it's useless and actually is really dangerous.

I can't disagree with the dangerous bit, but it can be useful. I know of a large telecoms group that has recently stopped using traditional recruitment methods and is now using Linked-In exclusively.

I don't use it myself, but am considering it in my current job. I guess the usefulness will depend on the industry you're in and the kind of role you perform.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Facebook is for girls to bitch about each other. I had a page for the fundraising efforts this year, they have introduced a feature, where you can limit the horse Shiite coming from certain quarters if you so wish, that is why I perceiver.

 

[nickyboy]

I can't disagree with the dangerous bit, but it can be useful. I know of a large telecoms group that has recently stopped using traditional recruitment methods and is now using Linked-In exclusively.

I don't use it myself, but am considering it in my current job. I guess the usefulness will depend on the industry you're in and the kind of role you perform.

I'm amazed by that. It's like making friends only through Facebook

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I'm a light FB user. My daughter always posts pictures of the g-kids on there so it's an easy way for her to circulate pics so that family and friends can see them. I also found the FB page for the Transcontinental Race useful because riders, friends and other supporters posted news and photos on it. I'm simply not interested in the other stuff so it doesn't bother me at all.

 

[Lullabelle]

I sacked FB about five years ago and rejoined last year for work/spam reasons.

it's great! I've got a close family member sharing xenophobic tripe from Britain First, a cousin reporting that she'd farted and followed through, another posting pictures of his new baby every five minutes, another posting pictures of their dog sitting, standing, barking and sleeping, then far far far too many "share this if you believe in angels" posts, as well as all the "if y0u c@n r3ad th1s, you're really special... like and share!" ... oh and the odd "We've been facebook friends for one year today!" posts

Don't get me started on those posts I have unfriended a few people due to racism/homophobia/bible bashing/'angels' c**p


On saying that I can have a great laugh and silliness with some great people so swings and roundabouts I suppose

 

[EltonFrog]

Inspired by the OP, I have now deleted my Twatter account, ( I never used it , didn't get it) and my LinkedIn account, a pointless waste of the internets.

I don't suppose anyone cares, but I thought I'd share for those of you who like a dose of irony.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

Fortunately, Twitter is one waste of time I never got in to. Facebook is primarily there for listening. I post maybe once every 6 weeks unless there's an event needs advertising and that'll be on the event page. I largely ignore friend requests, even from people I physically know.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

It seems that most people's problems are the friends and family they have (or choose to interact with) rather than Facebook...

 

[Stephenite]

I, too, have taken some inspiration from this thread and blocked some apps, unfollowed people, etc. On Twatter i see i am being followed by a young south-american lad. Odd, i have never posted anything.

 

[Dave the Smeghead]

I deleted my Facebook account about 6 or 7 years ago. Don't have any other social media presence other than this one and LinkedIn.
I had a connection request from Katie Price this morning on LinkedIn (yes apparently that Katie Price). Ignored that immediately. Can't see what she could do for me professionally given that my career has never involved getting my bo*bs out - not that anyone would want to see my man bo*bs!