You might think I’m insane for taking the step of deleting my Facebook account, especially since I call myself an “interactive brand and strategy consultant.” Especially since marketers seem to be selling it to their clients a the best thing since 2 for 1. #
I’m not that concerned about the ongoing privacy issues, at least not directly. Anyone who has spent any significant time online knows that everything you put out there is potentially public. If you are worried about the potential of something going public, you just shouldn’t put it anywhere on the Internet ever. #
My reason for deleting my facebook account is directly related to my reasons for going digitally nude. When I honestly ask what Facebook is for, I realize that the changes in Facebook’s privacy settings and policies over the years have changed the kind of tool it is. #
Facebook used to be a tool for keeping in touch with friends and close acquaintances. Casual, laid-back and mostly existing for a humorous, good time. People used to think it was bad etiquette to friend someone you didn’t know, or at least meet a few times in real life. Now, it’s common place. #
Facebook never really let you distinguish between public and private information, but it did let you distinguish between your personal and public persona. Your public persona was out there on the web; Facebook was where you kept things a little more personal. That distinction is now gone. And to be fair, I think that whether this is Facebook’s doing or whether they are simply keeping up with peoples’ usage of the service is a chicken and egg question. #
I may return to Facebook, but first I need to disrobe myself of it and figure out if it still fits me well. #