buzzbishop
on - last edited on
They're making lifecasting easier. The new Timeline feature will be rolled out in the next few weeks. It's a gorgeous stream of status updates, photos and videos.
Facebook user, this is your life.
While on the surface it looks like a simpler way to share, the fly in the ointment is that it's a simpler way to overshare.
The reaction was swift yesterday - the tech savvy were afraid, the naive were thrilled.
@savvyauntie I'm an adult. I know what to share and not share. I'm worried for teens and young adults who don't, or share just to feel cool.
@alifedotwosky Such a AWESOME new feature on FB!!! LOVE this!!!! facebook.com/about/timeline
@todmaffin Facebook's new "Timeline" (set to replace the personal profile, if I read reports right) will be a #fail. Watch for daily usage to plummet.
@marcusnelson "Why do I feel the redesigned @Facebook is answering questions I'm not asking? #f8"
@steveler Facebook is announcing new features to further proxy our relationships. It makes me want to go out and do real things.
@greatistheworld If you want to see the future just imagine Mark Zuckerberg hiding a checkbox from a human face forever.
@rahafharfoush So in summary: "every step you take, every bond you break, every move you make I'll be watching you." - Mark z (or Sting)
@SocialMedia411 New Facebook isn't a tweak; it's a huge bet on a utopian world where everybody wants to share everything. #NotLikely
@alancross My takeaway from Facebook's f8 so far? Facebook = Skynet
Already Facebook's web of privacy rules are labyrinthian to navigate. While trying to simplify what gets shared with whom, the site creates too many levels of permissions that, too often, end up with a default exposure to the wide world. During the keynote, it was noted that Facebook is adressing privacy laws with Congress. It was almost as if to say "Dont worry about those privacy laws, folks. Facebook will get rid of them" .. yeah, that doesn't make me comfortable.
I'm not one to protect my privacy to extreme levels on the web. I use my children's real names when blogging about them and I post their pictures to my websites. I tell personal stories, I reveal location information. While I'm aware of phishing techniques, i don't live in fear of it. But I own my personal stories. I post them on sites that I have rights to, where I own the domain.
Users who overshare on Facebook are signing over their rights to Zuckerberg. They are creating detailed personal user fingerprints that will be eternally valuable to advertisers. We don't pay for Facebook, some say, so we shouldn't complain about the interface changes. when you don't pay for something, you're not the customer - you're the product.
The new timeline feature will make instantly easy to share everything. You'll give over your life to Facebook, it will be fun, and you won't be able to stop. Even if you see the alarms and try to get off the site, you can't. Your content is archived forever with Facebook.
In other words, you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave.
Further Reading:
Facebook's Terrible Plan [Slate]
Everything You Need To Know About The Facebook Update [Gizmodo]
Facebook Just Schooled The Internet Again [TechCrunch]
Facebook Changes Were Critical [SunTimes]
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