Facebook continues to suck

People wonder why Facebook is getting nasty PR while last year everyone was singing its praises.

Here’s why.

Rodrigo Sepulveda Schulz is a CEO of VodPod.tv in Europe. Not a spammer. Not an idiot. Not someone abusing Facebook.

Yet he still got kicked off.

Until this stuff stops I won’t use Facebook and won’t write nice things about it.

They say that Facebook is a “utility.” But since when does a utility just kick you off with no recourse?

Mark Zuckerberg: you need to fix this and now.

Rodrigo isn’t the only one, by the way. Every few days I get another email from someone who got kicked off and the thread about me getting kicked off has 500 comments now.

I guess Facebook really is just for college kids to poke themselves on. Oh well.

81 thoughts on “Facebook continues to suck

  1. Facebook rocks if you use it’s meant to be used… to connect with *friends* or actual contacts. Nobody I know that’s used it in this way has been booted.

    Either way, if there is a core problem that’s affecting another audience then I’m sure Zuckerberg and Co. are working on it.

    Like

  2. Facebook rocks if you use it’s meant to be used… to connect with *friends* or actual contacts. Nobody I know that’s used it in this way has been booted.

    Either way, if there is a core problem that’s affecting another audience then I’m sure Zuckerberg and Co. are working on it.

    Like

  3. It isn’t just facebook, myspace has a delete first ask questions later attitude for people on there. I know people that have “framed” people to get their accounts deleted by sending messages to customer service.

    Like

  4. It isn’t just facebook, myspace has a delete first ask questions later attitude for people on there. I know people that have “framed” people to get their accounts deleted by sending messages to customer service.

    Like

  5. How about having a one on one conversation with the head of Facebook? If that’s not a good idea for you (or it won’t happen), would you know some wonderful journalists, bloggers that could access, report and balance the information on what is happening here, regardless of where the balance falls. This is not just to report on the issues at hand.

    The goal:

    How can we use the power of the 2.0 world, our intelligent friends here among us (and I’ve met some of them, brilliant visionaries) to help social neworks manage the balance of sometimes needed computer automation instant deletions for (child pornography threats, illegal use, etc.) and come up with best practices, perhaps a way to provide a warning, or system that is yet to be defined.

    We both realize that many issues are per business policies. Time and time again, we’ve seen how companies adapt their business policies as situations change. (Example: “I would never put my video on the net” -network executive).

    If Facebook policies are too prohibitive, I’m afraid that in a competitive situation, they will have to work harder to retain consumers. I’m afraid the world of mouth negaties about Facebook will hurt them, and it would seem logical for the company to address the situation now and look at alternatives with you or others with an open mind.

    Thanks for the consideration. Your words travel and I’ll look forward to reading further and enjoying the path. Sincerely…

    Like

  6. How about having a one on one conversation with the head of Facebook? If that’s not a good idea for you (or it won’t happen), would you know some wonderful journalists, bloggers that could access, report and balance the information on what is happening here, regardless of where the balance falls. This is not just to report on the issues at hand.

    The goal:

    How can we use the power of the 2.0 world, our intelligent friends here among us (and I’ve met some of them, brilliant visionaries) to help social neworks manage the balance of sometimes needed computer automation instant deletions for (child pornography threats, illegal use, etc.) and come up with best practices, perhaps a way to provide a warning, or system that is yet to be defined.

    We both realize that many issues are per business policies. Time and time again, we’ve seen how companies adapt their business policies as situations change. (Example: “I would never put my video on the net” -network executive).

    If Facebook policies are too prohibitive, I’m afraid that in a competitive situation, they will have to work harder to retain consumers. I’m afraid the world of mouth negaties about Facebook will hurt them, and it would seem logical for the company to address the situation now and look at alternatives with you or others with an open mind.

    Thanks for the consideration. Your words travel and I’ll look forward to reading further and enjoying the path. Sincerely…

    Like

  7. Why on earth would MySpace kick someone off? For being offensive? Or do they differentiate between lurking and offensive lurking? As a business trying to take advantage of the demo Mr. S. speaks of, I can only express my frustration. They are SO not trying to help. The only bright spot has been the very nice person in cust svc who always emails me and tries to fix my recurring problems with Pages. Of course, they still aren’t fixed but at least she’s not rude!

    Like

  8. Why on earth would MySpace kick someone off? For being offensive? Or do they differentiate between lurking and offensive lurking? As a business trying to take advantage of the demo Mr. S. speaks of, I can only express my frustration. They are SO not trying to help. The only bright spot has been the very nice person in cust svc who always emails me and tries to fix my recurring problems with Pages. Of course, they still aren’t fixed but at least she’s not rude!

    Like

  9. I think most of us are frustrated with what’s going on with FB. It’s sad. If I were MS, I’d be a little worried about my significant investment.

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  10. I think most of us are frustrated with what’s going on with FB. It’s sad. If I were MS, I’d be a little worried about my significant investment.

    Like

  11. Just a basic Scoble Show template…

    ‘Greatest Thing in World, Nothing Will Ever Be the Same’ to total ‘Evil Suckage They Refused to Listen to Me, servesthemright’…

    Like

  12. Just a basic Scoble Show template…

    ‘Greatest Thing in World, Nothing Will Ever Be the Same’ to total ‘Evil Suckage They Refused to Listen to Me, servesthemright’…

    Like

  13. “fix this and now?” jiminy. The exact opposite of what I would hope that social networking and an “egalitarian,” everyman’s web could be: one where a few “special” users scream, yell, and threaten from their pulpits until they get their way.

    Like

  14. “fix this and now?” jiminy. The exact opposite of what I would hope that social networking and an “egalitarian,” everyman’s web could be: one where a few “special” users scream, yell, and threaten from their pulpits until they get their way.

    Like

  15. Yeah Facebook ALMOST became a utility, it sucked up somewhere though – it’s the “whitespace myspace” or was, now it is just clutterfed – with fake people & numb instincts. Don’t mess with Scoble. Bad move vatos.

    Like

  16. Yeah Facebook ALMOST became a utility, it sucked up somewhere though – it’s the “whitespace myspace” or was, now it is just clutterfed – with fake people & numb instincts. Don’t mess with Scoble. Bad move vatos.

    Like

  17. I agree with the sentiment of “if you don’t like the policies of the service, then don’t use it”.

    I am getting a little miffed by high profile bloggers and other “new media” types using their blogs and social media as a means of trying to force companies to change their practices. It is one thing if the practices are wronging a large group of people and making life in general bad for a lot of people. But when you abuse the service, or use it in a means that the creator didn’t intend and you suffer the consequences, it just seems petty to me to go blog about it and throw your weight around to try to make a change happen.

    If someone posts a blogs telling me my service “sucks”, I am a lot less likely to fix it than if you contact me directly and speak to me in a professional manner.

    The new media folks have singing the praises of open and honest communicatiosn through blogs, Twitter, FB and other services, but they also think that they can use these services as a means of bullying companies (and each other) into doing things the way new media wants them instead of how the companies themselves want to use them.

    Maybe there is an issue, maybe there isn’t. Being an A-List blogger should make it no more or less of an issue than if you don’t blog at all. Using that A-List status as a bullying tactic is just immature and quite frankly, turns a lot of people off.

    Chris – D-List blogger….

    Like

  18. I agree with the sentiment of “if you don’t like the policies of the service, then don’t use it”.

    I am getting a little miffed by high profile bloggers and other “new media” types using their blogs and social media as a means of trying to force companies to change their practices. It is one thing if the practices are wronging a large group of people and making life in general bad for a lot of people. But when you abuse the service, or use it in a means that the creator didn’t intend and you suffer the consequences, it just seems petty to me to go blog about it and throw your weight around to try to make a change happen.

    If someone posts a blogs telling me my service “sucks”, I am a lot less likely to fix it than if you contact me directly and speak to me in a professional manner.

    The new media folks have singing the praises of open and honest communicatiosn through blogs, Twitter, FB and other services, but they also think that they can use these services as a means of bullying companies (and each other) into doing things the way new media wants them instead of how the companies themselves want to use them.

    Maybe there is an issue, maybe there isn’t. Being an A-List blogger should make it no more or less of an issue than if you don’t blog at all. Using that A-List status as a bullying tactic is just immature and quite frankly, turns a lot of people off.

    Chris – D-List blogger….

    Like

  19. Fakebook is the greatest scam of the internet, evah!
    They invest all the money they get in PayPerPost to create a false cool image nobody believes and uses.

    They learned from M$ and they got some investment from them just to be like them.

    A disgraceful failure!

    Like

  20. Fakebook is the greatest scam of the internet, evah!
    They invest all the money they get in PayPerPost to create a false cool image nobody believes and uses.

    They learned from M$ and they got some investment from them just to be like them.

    A disgraceful failure!

    Like

  21. Btw, as soon as they get a “fakebook” rss alert they jump to clean their name, right chris? right?

    Don’t tell me I don’t recognize astroturfers, I do that for a living, and get paid for it!

    Like

  22. Btw, as soon as they get a “fakebook” rss alert they jump to clean their name, right chris? right?

    Don’t tell me I don’t recognize astroturfers, I do that for a living, and get paid for it!

    Like

  23. Robert, I was wondering where all this traffic to my blog was coming from đŸ˜‰ tried Techmeme, digg, slashdot, and scobleizer… indeed.

    Well, I got back in Facebook yesterday thanks to the help of a friend.

    I agree with the comments: since I have accepted their terms of use, I will from now on abide by them. (although in my opinion I did nothing wrong…)

    But indeed, my key learning here is :

    *** don’t use Facebook for anything vital to your life or business ***

    That’s because you really don’t control anything out there.
    A real problem and issue when we start thinking about all of those online services grabbing more and more of our private and professional life. FB is just one of those services we have started relying heavily on.

    Indeed dataportability.org is a good cause to defend. Anyone joinging their facebook group ? đŸ˜‰

    Rodrigo Sepulveda
    CEO, vpod.tv

    Like

  24. Robert, I was wondering where all this traffic to my blog was coming from đŸ˜‰ tried Techmeme, digg, slashdot, and scobleizer… indeed.

    Well, I got back in Facebook yesterday thanks to the help of a friend.

    I agree with the comments: since I have accepted their terms of use, I will from now on abide by them. (although in my opinion I did nothing wrong…)

    But indeed, my key learning here is :

    *** don’t use Facebook for anything vital to your life or business ***

    That’s because you really don’t control anything out there.
    A real problem and issue when we start thinking about all of those online services grabbing more and more of our private and professional life. FB is just one of those services we have started relying heavily on.

    Indeed dataportability.org is a good cause to defend. Anyone joinging their facebook group ? đŸ˜‰

    Rodrigo Sepulveda
    CEO, vpod.tv

    Like

  25. Facebook works great for people who aren’t abusing it. Or people who are using it so much that they think they’re abusing it, in which case those people probably need a break anyway.

    Like

  26. Facebook works great for people who aren’t abusing it. Or people who are using it so much that they think they’re abusing it, in which case those people probably need a break anyway.

    Like

  27. Some people seem to be jumping before reading something in its full form..

    Somehow Facebook has to manage their resources so that everyone gets to use it not just power users.

    It was not just that the person was sending messages promoting a site but that then umber of messages was quite high beyond a normal user..

    Scoble, compare them to Comcast which has better PR response..I think we know who wins facebook as comcast would never ever reverse their decisions would they?

    And if you read the follow up you see the person in question has found a better way to said actions and follow facebook tos by using groups..

    So next before we jump off the cliff, lets read a little before we make that conclusion jump..

    Like

  28. Some people seem to be jumping before reading something in its full form..

    Somehow Facebook has to manage their resources so that everyone gets to use it not just power users.

    It was not just that the person was sending messages promoting a site but that then umber of messages was quite high beyond a normal user..

    Scoble, compare them to Comcast which has better PR response..I think we know who wins facebook as comcast would never ever reverse their decisions would they?

    And if you read the follow up you see the person in question has found a better way to said actions and follow facebook tos by using groups..

    So next before we jump off the cliff, lets read a little before we make that conclusion jump..

    Like

  29. Does this mean you are no longer creating content that is only available on FB?

    I never understood why I would want to lock into a closed social network like they have.

    Like

  30. Does this mean you are no longer creating content that is only available on FB?

    I never understood why I would want to lock into a closed social network like they have.

    Like

  31. Boy, if this is not the definition of Attention Deficit Disorder, I don’t know what is. At one time Scoble couldn’t say enough good things about Facebook. So much so that he had to use markers and a whiteboard to explain to all of us the second coming of Jesus in the form of Facebook. But, then they went and enforced their terms of use. Since then Scoble has stomped and sulked over Facebook. How DARE they disrespect the great and powerful OZ.

    I’m totally baffled as to why anyone would take ANY of your opinions or observations seriously after this.

    Like

  32. Boy, if this is not the definition of Attention Deficit Disorder, I don’t know what is. At one time Scoble couldn’t say enough good things about Facebook. So much so that he had to use markers and a whiteboard to explain to all of us the second coming of Jesus in the form of Facebook. But, then they went and enforced their terms of use. Since then Scoble has stomped and sulked over Facebook. How DARE they disrespect the great and powerful OZ.

    I’m totally baffled as to why anyone would take ANY of your opinions or observations seriously after this.

    Like

  33. Facebook is the best social network going. I don’t learn anything from it which makes me questions how long it can go on for, until I get tired. If people are going to use it in ways other than Zuckerberg wants then to, then I say boot them first but then offer some recourse.

    Like

  34. Facebook is the best social network going. I don’t learn anything from it which makes me questions how long it can go on for, until I get tired. If people are going to use it in ways other than Zuckerberg wants then to, then I say boot them first but then offer some recourse.

    Like

  35. I agree with Thomas H .. I still check into Facebook, but it’s getting tedious. I don’t blame Facebook, I blame the small percentage of my friends who insist on inviting me to every group and application they come across.

    It also has me asking: who is my “friend?” For example, just because we went to high school together doesn’t make us friends. If we haven’t had a substantive conversation in two decades, how am I to respond to a “friend” request? Then again, that’s not Facebook’s fault either.. I digress. đŸ˜‰

    Like

  36. I agree with Thomas H .. I still check into Facebook, but it’s getting tedious. I don’t blame Facebook, I blame the small percentage of my friends who insist on inviting me to every group and application they come across.

    It also has me asking: who is my “friend?” For example, just because we went to high school together doesn’t make us friends. If we haven’t had a substantive conversation in two decades, how am I to respond to a “friend” request? Then again, that’s not Facebook’s fault either.. I digress. đŸ˜‰

    Like

  37. @1, Writing “all the best & many happy returns” on my friends walls on Facebook got me an alert from them saying that I’d been abusing the wall feature. I haven’t gotten kicked off as yet though.

    Like

  38. @1, Writing “all the best & many happy returns” on my friends walls on Facebook got me an alert from them saying that I’d been abusing the wall feature. I haven’t gotten kicked off as yet though.

    Like

  39. Pingback: mark zuckerberg
  40. It happened to me as well on Facebook (when I sent a mail to a couple dozen members of a group I created – to invite them to an invite where I couldn’t invite everybody).

    I was able to get it restored, but they gave me the impression that in case it happened again, it would be final. Thus I can’t use Facebook as “a utility” to manage events.

    Like

  41. It happened to me as well on Facebook (when I sent a mail to a couple dozen members of a group I created – to invite them to an invite where I couldn’t invite everybody).

    I was able to get it restored, but they gave me the impression that in case it happened again, it would be final. Thus I can’t use Facebook as “a utility” to manage events.

    Like

  42. The vast majority of the normal, average people who use Facebook don’t see the “nasty PR.”

    Maybe if we were all “A-listers” we’d hate it more. đŸ˜‰

    Like

  43. The vast majority of the normal, average people who use Facebook don’t see the “nasty PR.”

    Maybe if we were all “A-listers” we’d hate it more. đŸ˜‰

    Like

  44. Call me crazy, nuts, dumb — whatever, but I’ve never ever gone to Facebook, MySpace, Live Journal, etc. No use for me.

    I’ve tried Twitter but didn’t like it. I guess I’m old-school despite being in IT. I, do, however, like:

    – Blogging in general
    – Del.icio.us
    – IM
    – Yahoo Mail
    – MS Live Messenger
    – Flickr
    – Opera browser (the best browser IMHO. More geeks should try it.)
    – Digg, Slashdot, Reddit

    I do try most new services just to see what they’re about, but I rarely stay for more than a day or so.

    I think all of these “services” are rather doomed. A few will make it, but most will fall by the wayside within a year or two, perhaps sooner.

    Facebook is great for what it was designed to be, but those that see it as more than that are looking for some one-stop-shop panacea. Sorry. It doesn’t measure up.

    Like

  45. Call me crazy, nuts, dumb — whatever, but I’ve never ever gone to Facebook, MySpace, Live Journal, etc. No use for me.

    I’ve tried Twitter but didn’t like it. I guess I’m old-school despite being in IT. I, do, however, like:

    – Blogging in general
    – Del.icio.us
    – IM
    – Yahoo Mail
    – MS Live Messenger
    – Flickr
    – Opera browser (the best browser IMHO. More geeks should try it.)
    – Digg, Slashdot, Reddit

    I do try most new services just to see what they’re about, but I rarely stay for more than a day or so.

    I think all of these “services” are rather doomed. A few will make it, but most will fall by the wayside within a year or two, perhaps sooner.

    Facebook is great for what it was designed to be, but those that see it as more than that are looking for some one-stop-shop panacea. Sorry. It doesn’t measure up.

    Like

  46. I agree with the Economist that Facebook is not a business, and definitely one not worth $15 billion. Facebook is a platform that will be mainstreamed like the transition from AOL to IE and everyone will use it as a sort of browser. It will be great to see Zuckerberg cry when he doesnt even get his billion.

    -my first day on the scoble blog. nice to hear your thoughts

    Like

  47. I agree with the Economist that Facebook is not a business, and definitely one not worth $15 billion. Facebook is a platform that will be mainstreamed like the transition from AOL to IE and everyone will use it as a sort of browser. It will be great to see Zuckerberg cry when he doesnt even get his billion.

    -my first day on the scoble blog. nice to hear your thoughts

    Like

  48. Robert I also am very irritated with this habit these “services” have of kicking you off without any notification. I have come to understand that some competitors will flag you and send a complaint just to get you kicked off. But MySpace is way worse to my associates and I in this area. I build “micro-niche” internet television channels that have Ning website and a corresponding MySpace page. We have had at least 10 or more of our channels closed down without any notification. We have sent numerous inquiries without a single response. Facebook is following in the bad habits started by MySpace. I guess I should feel better, because we only thought ti happened to us peons. Well, I hope they don’t look to us for any loyalty in the future. What goes around, comes around. I have recently joined the Electronic Frontier Foundation (www.eff.org), to be prepared for just such issues. Thank you for identifying a real and growing problem. Peace & Blessings.

    Like

  49. Robert I also am very irritated with this habit these “services” have of kicking you off without any notification. I have come to understand that some competitors will flag you and send a complaint just to get you kicked off. But MySpace is way worse to my associates and I in this area. I build “micro-niche” internet television channels that have Ning website and a corresponding MySpace page. We have had at least 10 or more of our channels closed down without any notification. We have sent numerous inquiries without a single response. Facebook is following in the bad habits started by MySpace. I guess I should feel better, because we only thought ti happened to us peons. Well, I hope they don’t look to us for any loyalty in the future. What goes around, comes around. I have recently joined the Electronic Frontier Foundation (www.eff.org), to be prepared for just such issues. Thank you for identifying a real and growing problem. Peace & Blessings.

    Like

  50. Any company such as FB with such a sensitive early detection system inevitably becomes the boy who cried “Wolf”.

    When enough people stop listening to their propaganda or using FB, only then will a wake up call be heard.

    It is indeed using a map created by AOL by entombing itself while trying to figure out how to open up and retain any decent market value.

    Like

  51. Any company such as FB with such a sensitive early detection system inevitably becomes the boy who cried “Wolf”.

    When enough people stop listening to their propaganda or using FB, only then will a wake up call be heard.

    It is indeed using a map created by AOL by entombing itself while trying to figure out how to open up and retain any decent market value.

    Like

  52. Ha, I just just got blocked as well. Didn’t even tell me anything. Just wouldn’t let me log in saying invalid email or password. When I tried to reset I got a message stating: “This email domain has been reported as abusive by Facebook users.” The *domain* is abusive?!? It’s just xemaps.com !

    Some search results lead me to believe it’s because I use a SpamEx disposable email address. Does Facebook no longer like disposable email addresses because they won’t be valuable to advertisers later?

    Whatever. It’s their company to mess up, but how hard would it be for FB to at least send some kind of message or warning? Really.

    Like

  53. Ha, I just just got blocked as well. Didn’t even tell me anything. Just wouldn’t let me log in saying invalid email or password. When I tried to reset I got a message stating: “This email domain has been reported as abusive by Facebook users.” The *domain* is abusive?!? It’s just xemaps.com !

    Some search results lead me to believe it’s because I use a SpamEx disposable email address. Does Facebook no longer like disposable email addresses because they won’t be valuable to advertisers later?

    Whatever. It’s their company to mess up, but how hard would it be for FB to at least send some kind of message or warning? Really.

    Like

  54. Facebook blocked me also… I also use Spamex. They need to let us provide them with an alternative email address, so we can log back into our FB account. I still can’t believe they didn’t warn us before they just locked out the spamex,xemaps.com domain. I’ve sent multiple emails to FB with no luck…. I use to really like FB, but with the shotty support and lack of customer service I’ve experienced; I will push people to use other social tools.

    Like

  55. Facebook blocked me also… I also use Spamex. They need to let us provide them with an alternative email address, so we can log back into our FB account. I still can’t believe they didn’t warn us before they just locked out the spamex,xemaps.com domain. I’ve sent multiple emails to FB with no luck…. I use to really like FB, but with the shotty support and lack of customer service I’ve experienced; I will push people to use other social tools.

    Like

  56. Same issue here, my xemaps.com address is blocked.
    I’m refusing to switch to another email address, and I’ll bug Facebook until we’re all red in the face.
    “For security reasons, we no longer allow emails with this email domain to be used to access the site”.
    Is Facebook the new Department of Homeland Security?
    Should I take my shoes off, too? What about my shampoo?

    Like

  57. Same issue here, my xemaps.com address is blocked.
    I’m refusing to switch to another email address, and I’ll bug Facebook until we’re all red in the face.
    “For security reasons, we no longer allow emails with this email domain to be used to access the site”.
    Is Facebook the new Department of Homeland Security?
    Should I take my shoes off, too? What about my shampoo?

    Like

  58. hi. i am a hacker. I can get you a myspace,facebook, aol, yahoo, gmail, hotmail…etc password. I do charge a fee to get a password. Once I do get password I’ll show you proof I have it. Are you interested? E-mail me at fordf202006@yahoo.com

    **I cannot recover a lost/stolen/forgotten password**

    Like

  59. hi. i am a hacker. I can get you a myspace,facebook, aol, yahoo, gmail, hotmail…etc password. I do charge a fee to get a password. Once I do get password I’ll show you proof I have it. Are you interested? E-mail me at fordf202006@yahoo.com

    **I cannot recover a lost/stolen/forgotten password**

    Like

  60. Is she/he cheating? Curious what your partner, sibling or friend has stored on their harddrive or on facebook and myspace? I will help you recover any password you desire and give you proof of access to the account before you pay! Get access to files, yahoo/aim/messenger conversations, facebook, myspace, gmail, hotmail/live or any website password you desire now– email me @ foxyflygrl08@gmail.com

    My name is London and I will be more than happy to help you out– My prices are reasonable, and I’ll even discount return customers.

    Like

  61. Is she/he cheating? Curious what your partner, sibling or friend has stored on their harddrive or on facebook and myspace? I will help you recover any password you desire and give you proof of access to the account before you pay! Get access to files, yahoo/aim/messenger conversations, facebook, myspace, gmail, hotmail/live or any website password you desire now– email me @ foxyflygrl08@gmail.com

    My name is London and I will be more than happy to help you out– My prices are reasonable, and I’ll even discount return customers.

    Like

  62. I barely use my account–and I own the domain for my small business. I've never even remotely spammed anyone; I only use FB to stay in touch with a very few distant friends. Yet I've been booted off twice now. How on earth does that happen? What a joke FB is.

    Like

  63. I barely use my account–and I own the domain for my small business. I've never even remotely spammed anyone; I only use FB to stay in touch with a very few distant friends. Yet I've been booted off twice now. How on earth does that happen? What a joke FB is.

    Like

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