View Full Version : The slow death of Facebook
Two good friends in as many weeks have actually announced their departure from the 'book.
One cited the fact that his online presence (which used to be in his website, blog, newsgroups etc) has started being sucked into only Fb, and he doesn't want it to be that way.
The other already has promo stuff (he's a bit of a media darling) on MySpace, and his own website, but finds himself spending too much time posting rubbish on bookFace.
I recently organised my birthday do, as I have now done for several years I based the info and invites in the Fb Events system because it's just veeerrryyy convenient. However, I still had to speak in person to most people to tell them they had an invite - people are inundated with them so even start to ignore the events they actually want to go to.
If I wasn't using the site now for links with organisations and spreading information about all the dancing lark in Bristol, I'd be tempted to hop it too. Sadly even then I think I'd get stopped by not being able to access all the photos and history which is now sitting in that thing. Bah.
What think you?
I use it to promote my photography business, its a good way of marketing myself on the cheap. I also use it to stay in touch with my friends I have all over the world. And its all free. So I love it :)
Once I figured out how to hide stupid game invites and updates and certain peoples status updates, I love it even more :D
I still really like it but this live feed thing is atrocious. I had to refresh about ten times before I finally got the feed to load on the page this morning. Everything loads except the feed, and it says 'Done'. It's not ****ing done is it?!
I think SN is always going to be very subjective, some people have a lifestyle that a digital extension of themselves works really well, almost seamlessly. Some people just can't get into them, and only have an account because all their mates do. They'll slowly die off.
Very hard to predict the future of sites like Facebook and Twitter, if anything they'll probably continue to grow as the digital generations mature and tweeting becomes as common as txting.
Stan_Lite
17-11-2009, 15:14
Some people just can't get into them, and only have an account because all their mates do. They'll slowly die off.
You just described me perfectly there. I hardly ever use it and find myself using it even less as time passes. I have the odd splurge where I vow to use it more but it's the same as all my abandoned blog attempts - it's really not my sort of thing and, try as I might to digitally network, I'm just an old fart at the end of the day.
NokkonWud
17-11-2009, 15:23
I stopped using Facebook over a year ago, I just find it much more worthwhile using Twitter and forums.
I signed up to one of those social networking sites, but used it so little I don't even remember which site is was...
I only look at it once or twice a week and that's only to see what people are up to. I ignore most apps and all the other ****e and very rarely update my profile and stuff.
I never signed up to SN site. I fear it would be too much of a drain on my time and I spend enough time in front of a square piece of glass already.
I use it to keep up with our cycling stuff. The rest of the cycling group post how far they've ridden, and I post how much blood I lost in the inevitable crash.
I never signed up to SN site. I fear it would be too much of a drain on my time and I spend enough time in front of a square piece of glass already.
You're a window cleaner? ;D
Matblack
17-11-2009, 15:55
Twitter and forums.
Forums suck :p
MB
being a uni student i don't think you can ignore it. its simply the way people communicate and share information.
i feel forced into it but its not too bad i guess... its a decent platform, far better than any other social network, and widely supported in the integration of all other commonly used sites so I can't complain.
I use it to see what people are up to and it reminds me to get in touch with certain people, or contact those that might be able to help me with something. It's a great way of sharing pics and events and generally see what people are up to that you wouldn't normally keep in touch with (out of sight, out of mind etc...).
I've now learnt how to disable all the crap and literally have a very basic layout. It's fun to interact with people and share a bit of banter, it kinda reminds you that you still exist and that others know you haven't forgotten them. I have friends spread all around the world so it's brilliant to see what their up to and share on their lives which I'd otherwise not be able to. Though it is gutting when you see them get up to stuff that you used to do together and sometimes wish you were there.
I've got a few people on FB which I haven't met and some I have no reason to keep in touch with but somehow find it tough to come about getting rid "just in case"... that's pretty sad isn't it?! :o
It's a good laugh. Useful for messaging all of my students at once too!
I'm on but hardly use it. It's good to have to keep in touch with old friends who you hardly see or speak to any more.
I use it quite a lot. It's a useful way for me to keep in touch with most people.
it kinda reminds you that you still exist and that others know you haven't forgotten them. I have friends spread all around the world so it's brilliant to see what their up to and share on their lives which I'd otherwise not be able to. Though it is gutting when you see them get up to stuff that you used to do together and sometimes wish you were there.
That pretty much sums it up for me too.
Facebook started to die the day non university students were allowed to join.
SidewinderINC
17-11-2009, 22:09
I've started to cut down a hell of a lot - mostly due to my mental fragility.
I don't miss it.
Dymetrie
17-11-2009, 22:17
Facewhatnow?
:p
Facebook started to die the day non university students were allowed to join.
Facebook started to die the moment they stuck on stupid ****ing applications that anoy the hell out you every 10 seconds. Thank god you can hide them from your own feed but you still have to put up with it looking through other people's feeds.
I's great for event's, photos and chatting to people. I can't see it dying. It's to useful as a tool and more and more people are stripping all the rubbish gunk and games off their profile.
Admiral Huddy
18-11-2009, 12:03
I have signed up once or twice but it just doesn't appeal to me so I've unregistered just as quick. The thought of people pretending to be my friend from 1million years ago doesn't fill me with excitement. My wife had a friend request with someone she fell out with 16 years ago and their feelings to each other were pretty clear.. Then all of a sudden "be my friend" - oh oh how lovely #jumps for joy# - Pathetic..
Facebook started to die the moment they stuck on stupid ****ing applications that anoy the hell out you every 10 seconds. Thank god you can hide them from your own feed but you still have to put up with it looking through other people's feeds.
How do you mean? Can't you hide the application itself or does that only work on your own profile?
I thought if you blocked the whole application (through privacy settings) rather than just hide from your feed that you stopped seeing it at all as well as people not being able to invite you to it etc
How do you mean? Can't you hide the application itself or does that only work on your own profile?
Only hide it from your own news feed or whatever it's called.
I thought if you blocked the whole application (through privacy settings) rather than just hide from your feed that you stopped seeing it at all as well as people not being able to invite you to it etc
Me too - so you wouldn't see it on other people's feeds either. I'm sure that's how mine works - I block that Mafia Wars app and I can't see it at all even if I visit their profile - although I know people are playing it because I see it on Matt's feed.
I find facebook invaluable as a communication tool - I have people on there that i'm not close enough to see or visit regularly (such as people I know from remote sites at work) but through f/b I've got to know them better, seen their family pics, found common interests I wouldn't have found otherwise and have made much closer friendships with. I've also had a lot of creative input from people in the extended media circle around Merseyside that I wouldn't have known about without FB. I've also been able to put people friends through to other friends when they're working on similar projects together. Oh and of course, there's the friends & family abroad - I just don't have time to email everyone seperately, so fb is ideal for sharing that stuff that otherwise, we wouldn't share.
Workwise - I've had several jobs from friends of friends, including my first paid photography job through fb and at the moment I've got a fair list of people asking can I do some baby pic jobs for them after seeing my photos on the site. In terms of my creative work, I just don't think you can beat the exposure something like fb gives you - for free!
To be honest Sara in both the cases you mention, it's more a matter of self-control - fb can be perfect if you can moderate how much time you waste on it. :)
A lot of my friends organise bigger events using Facebook but not much else. Also its great for sharing photos I would never normally see. I've restricted what people can see of me, got rid of people I added as a 'novelty' (e.g. people I wasn't really friends with at school), removed all the annoying updates and set the email updates to only alert me when someone sends me a message or tags a photo. Its not a big part of my life and I could live without it, but its useful. I think my usage has dropped quite a lot since the novelty wore off, its probably going to stay at this level for a while.
I use FB like a mental spitoon.
Justsomebloke
19-11-2009, 12:13
I like it as I get to see pics posted of my Grandson/Daughter/Friends/Rellys/Xbox live friends & they get to see mine. I find it a nice distant way of keeping in touch with all sorts of people.
You do have to Block the apps & set it up to suit yourself but apart from the crap it's a useful tool.
Also it's Bloody Marvelous for sniping pasty.
Currently using it to sell my car, anyone want it? :D
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