Alright, let’s face it. The way we communicate has changed. We have changed. Now we can share tons of information about whatever with any number of people. And that’s great. I like sharing because through other people’s suggestions I have read some great stuff I would never have found otherwise. Well, yeah, I am still struggling to find a better way to share certain stuff with certain people, but mailing always does the trick.
I hate people complaining for the sake of it. You log in to your Facebook account just to feed your cows. Then you read an article on the web saying how bad Facebook is. And then you realise that all of it is true. Your very private pictures and, and, oh, yeah, your mood messages might be visible to everyone on this virtual planet.
May I ask you something? How many people have seen your childhood pictures? Yeah, the ones you are naked on? Not many. Why? Because they are not posted on your front door, that’s why. Pretty simple. Common sense, people would say. And it’s not like you haven’t thought about that. You like “Tokio Hotel”, but you don’t want other people to know you do? Just don’t then, they are disgusting anyway.
Now it’s advertising’s turn. People seem to be afraid of all those really well targeted ads. Companies know you like red socks and offer you some from the sidebar, be it Facebook’s or any other’s. Do you click on them? Do you even see them? I guess not. I hope not. Because, otherwise, you belong to this surprisingly big group of people who do click on random links. So long as this group of people is that big, companies will still use those boring methods of attracting attention and driving sales. And, hey, why do you add information about yourself anyway? Do you really need to have it there, under the “Info” tab? Nope.
What I am afraid of is the so-called “herd behaviour”.
Thing is, you always have a choice. However, if you want to live in a cave, don’t look for one on Facebook. As far as I know, caves are not available in FarmVille either. Yet.
If you are a good programmer, build a better Facebook. If you aren’t, you still have plenty of options. Sharing of pictures? Print and deliver them to the door of your friends. On foot. Just don’t be narrow, please.