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Angry Facebook Users Search for the Exit

Open-source Facebook rival gathers steam

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted May 14, 2010 3:39 AM CDT

(Newser) – The newest and hottest Facebook trend is quitting Facebook. Some of the site's 400 million users—including several high-profile technology pundits—have been deleting their accounts, citing privacy concerns. The social networking site doesn't release statistics on how many people scuttle their accounts, but Google searches on how to quit Facebook have skyrocketed in recent weeks, and the topic is now on the Hot Trends list of most popular searches.

Users say they're finding it creepy that their preference are showing up all over the Internet, and complain that adjusting their privacy settings is far too complex. A back-up plan may be already in the works for ex-Facebookers, the Globe and Mail notes. A group of programmers seeking to raise funds to allow them to create what they call "an open source personal web server that will put individuals in control of their data" have already raised $100,000 for their Diaspora project—10 times their target.

Facebook's Delete Account page.
Facebook's "Delete Account" page.   (Facebook)
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Tech pundit Leo Laporte deletes his Facebook account live on This Week In Google.   (twit)

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 12 comments
sallythedoctor
May 15, 2010 9:20 PM CDT
Privacy settings are not difficult. You click on all the tabs, read what each button does, and choose your preference. Same as anything else. It's complicated in the way that my grandma thinks printing something is complicated and has to call me every time she does it.

Also, if you are uncomfortable with anyone online knowing something, don't put it anywhere. That's just internet 101. Don't put the info out there in the first place.
Cat-Lover
May 14, 2010 9:28 PM CDT
I dropped out of Facebook about two weeks ago but not because of privacy concerns, although it was a factor. I dropped out because I was inundated on my Hotmail account with requests to join this group or that, accept so and so as a friend, enter this contest or that, not to mention reminders of birthdays of peope I'd never known.

It became ridiculous until I remembered the few people with whom I began my Facebook encounters and then realized that they have nothing to do all day but surf the web and play games.

I opted out and have no intention of getting on anyone else's social website except Newser.
fykusfire
May 14, 2010 3:41 PM CDT
That's a great idea really. Hopefully it won't be taken over by big corporate interests like Facebook did. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

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