Official June 2011 Monthly Guest Blogging Contest Post #5
Contest Article
Free Software Foundation (FSF) is an organization that campaigns for the freedom of usage of softwares. They support things like open source and programs under the GNU General Public License where users have the right to use the programs free from any limitations mostly found on proprietary softwares.
When we think of proprietary softwares, or softwares under some license that holds and limits the users of the program to the terms suggested by the company or the creators, what product would immediately register on our minds? Of course, the oh-so-famous Microsoft products.
When Windows 7 became live on 2009, FSF immediately created a campaign “Windows 7 Sins” stating the things that Microsoft yet again brought to existence – the monopoly role of the said product on our regular computing lives, the terms to carry on our shoulders, the limitations included that prevents the users from expanding their knowledge and the right to know about everything they need to know about the product they are using, and so on, and so forth.
But recently, a post against the usage of the social networking site Facebook caught my interest.
What’s with Facebook that made them against it?
We all know that we are free to use Facebook as we are not paying anything to use it. Nonetheless, what ‘free’ on the Free Software Foundation means is the freedom to use, not ‘free’ as in free beer – the analogy they always use to define the word free. But we are free to use Facebook, right? Or are we not?
FSF is claiming that by using Facebook, we are not communicating with other people directly; that we are communicating with Mr. Zuckerberg first before the person we are interacting with. Sounds legit? Yes, I can tell. Some posts, especially on your Status, will first be checked by the system before you send it. If it contains some malicious and distasteful content, it will not be posted. That’s the same as links, if you post links (e.g., links under famous URL shorteners like bit.ly), you need to enter the words to a CAPTCHA test first before it is posted.
Is filtering depriving users their freedom to post whatever they want? As we all know, filtering is for security purposes, to prevent abuse from users. But is preventing abuse a deprivation of freedom?
“The only freedom which deserves the name is that of pursuing our own good,
in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs,
or impede their efforts to obtain it.”
- John Stuart Mill
Well, a system could not possibly detect the main purpose of a user when submitting a post. Unlike humans, it cannot instantly tell that a certain post is made for malicious purposes or not. It could detect only a little. So is the system’s inability to fully detect the purpose of the user a flaw to the whole system? I don’t think so. It’s like cursing a dog for not being able to purr.
Another thing is the tracking system used by Facebook to detect Likes and Recommendations on a page that contains it – that even non-Facebook users’s information will be logged and that these information could be used to invade the users’ privacy. One almost high type of a speculation (but is not impossible), is that it could be used by the government on surveillance purposes.
And so they are suggesting that we use the alternatives which passed their requirements of a free software (again, free as in freedom not free beer.) The alternatives mentioned are GNU Social, Status.net, Crabgrass, Appleseed, and Diaspora.
What makes it sound absurd?
Of all the alternatives mentioned, I’ve only heard of Diaspora. What makes Facebook effective as a social networking site is that you could really network with people you want to interact to. The problem with FSF’s alternatives is – it’s like suggesting us to connect with ghosts. We all know that not all Facebook users are geeks, and you just can’t tell them to leave Facebook and create an account on Crabgrass or GNU Social. The tech geeks you could convince; but social networking isn’t about all people with same interests together, else just create a forum site or something similar to deviantArt.
Facebook has contributed a great role to drive traffic to our before-unknown spaces on the web. Could social media enthusiasts live without Facebook for the sake of this campaign? What left me thinking is – is there any similarity between Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerburg that made them trigger the “dislike” button for both?
How about you?
Do you use Facebook? Do you regularly use it? Are you willing to give up using Facebook and migrate to the said alternatives? If yes, will you (or could you) convince your friends to migrate, too? Feel free to share your thoughts and suggestions.
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Twitter: aynilists
Interesting read! I think it’s a bit strange to boycott a service like Facebook. I’m sure that when a “free” open-source service like Status.net finally launches and gathers millions of users, it will also start controlling the masses.
Where people gather, evil lurks ..
I mean, people will always spam, try to infiltrate accounts and do other malicious things as long as we roam this earth and interwebz.
I use Facebook on a regular basis, but mostly to look at other people’s adventures and interacting with them. I’m not much of a sharer myself. For business purposes, however, I tend to use it a lot more intensively and it always proofs a great source of quality traffic.
After reading about the open-source alternatives to Facebook I have signed up for the alpha/beta programs. Hope I get invited
Cheers,
Sietse
Twitter: GianFaye
Hi Sietse,
Thank you for sharing your insights and experiences with Facebook. It’s a good thing that you’ve signed up for the alternatives mentioned by FSF and to try them even though they’re not so popular. And who knows, maybe as you said, they’ll also start controlling the majority of social networkers online. But as of today, it’s really awkward to think Facebook will someday get fully abandoned and be replaced by the said alternatives. Well, only the future could tell.
Cheers back.
Gian Faye
Twitter: Ileane
Hi gianfaye, this is a though provoking post and I’m not sure what my views are on this. I did sign up for an account with Status.net awhile ago but I never use it. As far as I’m concerned they can take away Facebook, just don’t take away my Twitter
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Twitter: GianFaye
Hi Ileane! So far they haven’t had a campaign against Twitter yet so there’s no need to worry at this moment.
As for Status.net, I actually haven’t tried it yet and based on your feedback, maybe I really don’t have plans to sign up today. Thanks for reading and commenting. Regards. 
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Interesting! Facebook is not really an open source because they don’t contribute the source codes to anyone but it is free to use which is always a good thing. Facebook is the best social site (I think Facebook is not just a social site but a cloud computing) that ever created for all types of people and very interactive compares to other type of social site ever created.
I’m an open source supporter but I’m not against Facebook way of maintaining there website perform on it’s best because if they don’t act against some malicious action (spammer, post some nudity and many more) then Facebook performance will drop down and will not successful as of what they are now.
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Twitter: GianFaye
Your points make sense! If they haven’t implemented that type of filtering against spam and abuse, people will flock out of it. I guess we humans just like to pinpoint problems without realizing that everything has a downside, or security holes in terms of things like Facebook.
Diaspora is open source, would you try it and the other alternatives mentioned by FSF?
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I don’t want to try it obviously because FB is now too Flexible in order for people to move into another social site in which came from nowhere and as of now FB is not just a social site but a cloud computing in which you can create your application and last time I noticed that you can attach some files. So so so impressive.
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Twitter: GianFaye
Hmmm… Most open source enthusiasts are eager to give it a try but Facebook is just too kingly for it to be replaced by a ‘newbie’. I guess they need to upgrade Diaspora to Facebook’s level for it to be considered a competition between the two. And people from Facebook have innovative minds, as what you set as an example, that’s why people stick closer and closer to it. And maybe, it’ll be harder to just grab them away from Facebook because these features are one hell of an adhesive.
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Your right for that! But I thin there a big company who want to challenge FB. I know you heard Google + but it is also worth mentioning. What do you think? Is FSF will be in the side of Google?
Christian Esperar recently posted..Warning! Tricky Advertisment Ahead!
Twitter: GianFaye
I haven’t looked at that angle, Christian! Awesome you have thought of that.
As of now we do not know if FSF is pro-Google+. But, Google has also encountered privacy issues in the past, such as people getting tracked on their mobile phones and information being shared to the government. But those are just speculations and we don’t know which is true, which isn’t.
I was thinking about the alternatives set by FSF. Will they still stick to the alternatives they mentioned? Or would they encourage users to Google+? We still don’t know.
gianfaye recently posted..The Bob & Rosemary Blog Shows Solutions To Networkers
Twitter: kirapermunian
Excellent Gianfaye! I’ve known about the Facebook thing and on how Mark control every data we shared on the network BUT I didn’t know it was that serious as this. I am a regular user of Facebook and I really don’t think of things like it’ll hurt me so bad. So far there is one aspect in Facebook that seemed to fail and people really don’t understand something on it. Yeah I’m referring to privacy! I think everyone knew that we just don’t have full control in Facebook. What I hate really is that people could post some damaging information about us that they don’t know to be damaging at the time and darn, it’s very easy to find.
Just very recently when Microsoft had a raid on the company I worked with and did some inspection to our laptops. That was pretty disappointing in their part that we’re using opensource system. Cheers!
Thanks for great share. You just made me think!
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Twitter: GianFaye
Thank you, Kira! And yes, the privacy issues are the mostly seen concerns on Facebook. But as time goes on I can see the efforts of Facebook against any abuse against our privacy. The good thing is – they’re open to do anything for the betterment of their service, which I think is one of the best traits of a company such as theirs on the tech and social media industry.
Regarding the Microsoft raid – Lol! I was visualizing the situation as you mention it and I just can’t help myself from laughing so hard. Imagine a proprietary company expecting something to see like pirated version of their product to stumbled upon the competitors of their products instead. Haha! That was one moment of glory for your company!
Sure I want to make posts that make people think so I could hear their synapses snapping all the way here (well, using my imagination atleast).
As always, thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.
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Twitter: Ben
Another excellent post Gian, I am open to try anything especially FOP-Free Open Program. But my last experience with Free open source software really bothered me taste it again, it sucks! I am talking about with some linux OS and other apps that supports it.
Some FOP are just free while it is on the development stage but time comes when it became the most powerful it would create demand and cost as well.
If that company could offer a social network better than facebook then, I will try it or else it’s nothing.What’s the problem?Are they jealous with Mark Zuckerberg?lol…
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Twitter: GianFaye
Thanks, Bennix! What was that experience you mentioned? Could you share it?
As I’ve stated on my post, ‘free’ doesn’t really mean free as in free beer or free lunch. There are always costs on every project, right? What ‘free’ really means on this issue is the freedom from any limitations set by most proprietary companies.
Let me reword your term ‘jealous’ to ‘defeated’. Well, almost every company has its competitors. If you have read one of my articles on L-I, about the Rework book, it stated that you should underdo your competitors. Agree? Why they say ‘underdo’? Focus on the improvement of your company and don’t limit it by just overdoing what your competitor can do. If you’ve set limits by just overdoing what your competitors are doing, you’re limiting the potential of your product and your company.
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I enjoyed this one Gian, as tweeted by Kira. I can’t see the connection between MS and FB either that triggered the FSF rant on them. and I’m a regular FB user as well. It has been very helpful in connecting with long lost friends.
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Twitter: GianFaye
Thank you, Jun! I was always thinking if there is any resemblance with Zuckerberg and Gates. After I watched the Social Network I could feel that there is, but I just don’t know what it is. Anyways, it’s about Microsoft and Facebook we’re dealing with here. But I feel there’s something lost from the puzzle pieces. Anyway, thanks for sharing what you think of Facebook.
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Twitter: budwalkr
I do Facebook when I want to keep in touch with my friends, to use it on liking other webpages I’ve liked and to promote my blog in some minor ways. Although Facebook sounds cocky at most times, I still can’t find a reason valid enough to leave it. By the way, good thing you’re in Gian. Good luck with the contest
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Twitter: GianFaye
And we verb Facebook now. That’s an awesome idea I haven’t thought before.
Instead of saying ‘I’m on Facebook’, we’ll say ‘I’m Facebooking’. (Sounds weird to us Filipinos, ha!)
I guess it’s really hard to leave Facebook then. One reason why I’m still on Facebook is because I manage some Pages, and only I could administer them.
Thanks for taking your time to read this post, Argie! Wish you luck on the contest also. Cheers.
gianfaye recently posted..BlogFest 2011: An Appreciation Event For Blogs and Bloggers
Twitter: budwalkr
Haha exactly Gian. I dont know why but its seems like most of us Filipinos are stuck like glue on Facebook. It’s really hard to get away from it – real hard mostly if you own a business fan page.
Argie Monroy recently posted..How to Post Your Disqus Comments without Fail
Twitter: GianFaye
Like what I’ve replied to Christian’s comment above, Facebook’s features are like the adhesives (or glue as you said) that prevents us from getting away from it. Facebook’s technique is – add more features, make them stick more on our site. And that includes the fan pages as what you mentioned.
I wonder if there’ll come a time when the guys from Facebook will ran out of ideas. What do you think? As I believe, social interactions are limited. You can create one but if it’s just a ‘hype’ and not a ‘need’, it will eventually fade away.
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Twitter: budwalkr
I dont really think that these guys would go out of ideas. They are always innovating all the time, and I think they all go pretty well with the advent of technology.
Argie Monroy recently posted..Chilling Out in The Bad Blogger’s Blog
Twitter: GianFaye
Seems to be a fair point. As what I’m witnessing right now, they tend to extend their services to not just the social-based ones but also everything they could do to contribute to the world wide web – like the Facebook email address per se… and the commenting system. I wonder if it is fine for the internet folks if Facebook will go out of its zone as a social network.
If that will be the case, these alternatives are not enough to replace Facebook then? Or would we boycott Facebook because of its total invasion of all our online actions?
This seems to be another case to think about…
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Well said, but I’m really not sure about my side regarding it right now. I feel like Facebook’s filtering is just for protection for other users. Another thing, I think by signing up in various sites like Facebook is similar to going to a mall or any privately owned establishment with CCTV cameras recording your every move. To think about it, how and why will one man be monitoring each individual in a network with millions of people? Even if our information passes his desk, I don’t think he’ll have ample time to get through everything without piling up every moment that passes. I just can’t express my whole thought. I hope you get it a bit. Anyway, this topic is good. Made me think much.
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Twitter: GianFaye
Hi Lex, thanks for your time expressing your thoughts.
However, they are referring to Zuck as Facebook’s Big Brother, not to be taken literally that ‘all’ process need to be manually approved by Zuckerberg.
Also, not all CCTV cameras have an eye attached to them every second, right? It’s like, when something happened, that’s when CCTVs are checked.
That’s why I said that it’s the system they are using to do the filtering (because nobody could do it manually). Imagine 500million users inquiring on your desk? And so they use the system, but FSF refer to the filtering as deprivation of freedom of users.
Is the system’s inability to recognize a malicious post (that a human could easily recognize) a flaw to the system? Because that’s what FSF think of the ‘filtering’ action of the system.
gianfaye recently posted..Authopublisher Teaches You About Self-Publishing
Twitter: CrypticKris
The issue with facebook is somewhat the same on the issue against microsoft. They might win on their user friendly interface. But the same question exist. Are we really free on using it? As of now, facebook is not the usual social network. It slowly converting itself to become an online market which is quite annoying.
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Twitter: GianFaye
Oh, I see! I’ve also heard many rants about how Facebook is turning into something that’s occupying almost anything on the online market. Is Facebook turning monopoly? I remembered how Microsoft did the same, from operating systems to windows applications (though it’s acceptable because it’s a part of the system), to web apps (Silverlight), cloud computing (SkyDrive), instant messaging (Live Messenger), and many other things which seems to be not successful at all.
A rather quite odd thought came to me – What if Facebook build its own web browser? or a much odd thought – operating system? (Welcome to the Facebook OS!) These ‘what ifs’ are weird but based from my observation on Facebook, it’s not quite impossible.
Sounds horror to me, though.
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It’s a challenge for FSF to counteract to Facebook and Windows. These two big Giants are doing good in their fields so far and to take note, they have supported a lot of communities in the US and other countries. Yeah it’s true with the monopoly and manipulation of data but to think about it, it’s business and we have a choice to share( or not )a confidential data along their network. What I really want is a more cause and effect analogy on every actions we may implement because we are not just talking about FSF, Facebook and Windows.
In a greater sense we are talking about ourselves, our future…us people who have now grown with technology and and social media.
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Exactly! Moreover, it would be a tough run in order to keep up with these two. And besides, if FSF will to do their scheme, not only do they have these two to compete with since there have been also a lot of uprising stars on the go.
Argie Monroy recently posted..Know What’s Trending at the Dragon Blogger
Twitter: GianFaye
Yes, Argie, I really think this would be a tough competition among the newbies on the field of social networking, with the boss (Facebook) still waiting at the gates to defeat those who challenge it.
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Twitter: GianFaye
Hello Glaiza! Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this.
Regarding your first mention – That’s another challenge for FSF, because these two big companies have supported many causes. (I haven’t included that part on this post, thanks for mentioning it!)
And yes, it’s not just about the three of them – it’s about us, the users. Without Facebook, will social networking still be as popular as what it is now? Most people claim that if Facebook hasn’t been the pioneer on this field (social networking), others who have thought of this will still be as famous as Facebook. I think the answer’s obvious – just look at MySpace and Friendster.
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I have never been a fan of Facebook, but for different reasons. I like my personal connections, not reading a page of what everyone has done that day. We have lost touch with each other in the worst way.
It also tends to have teenagers (and some adults) compare their lives to others, and can cause depression or anxiety. I worry that we have forgotten why we are all here and losing touch with personal connections.
Twitter: GianFaye
Hi HCooke! I know what you are saying, regarding the depression and anxiety – it’s true. Most of people tend to check out the improvement of the lives of other people and tend to compare it to their present status. The question “Who’s more successful now?” is often the case. People like to post things that happened on their lives and be proud of them. Others will, of course, get envious about it somehow.
But, like what you meant, getting in touch with personal connections is much the purpose of social networking.
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Really good article, GF! i’ve been beating the drum for “alternatives” and “free” for a few years now! You are right on target! I really enjoy your blog too!
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Twitter: GianFaye
Hi Dave! I’m glad you find my post useful!
I’m also grateful that you enjoyed reading L-I.
See you around!
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Very comprehensive article Gian, as always. On my perspective, I am pretty sure that majority of Facebook’s users don’t really care about what FSF say. As long as they can connect to people they are fine with it. Of course, there are some who takes advantage of Facebook’s free service. And those are the reasons why, Zuckerberg has to put “rules” and content filtering.
I am a Facebook user and I am using it to interact with my friends and relatives. I don’t seem to have any of my contents get filtered. None of my acquaintances have. How about you?
“It’s a free world but nothing is totally free. It’s just like freewill but you don’t really get that freedom. – my take from the movie: The Adjustment Bureau”
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Twitter: GianFaye
Hi Ramcel! Thanks for your insightful remarks (and for including that quote from a movie). I also believe that most of Facebook users don’t care about FSF and not all of them knows about FSF at all.
I’ve had encountered once of when my contents got filtered. It was when I have a website under a .co.cc domain and Facebook does not accept it as it could be a spam. But that was my personal website. I posted about it on L-I.
Should Facebook Ban All Sites Under the .Co.Cc Domain?
http://loading-info.blogspot.com/2011/02/should-facebook-ban-all-sites-under.html
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Interesting insights Gian!
This leads me to another blog post I’ve seen about a new social media site brought up by Google recently called Google +.
So I am gonna tell you exactly what I told to Bennix as well:
“As for facebook I will stick with bcs :
1) I joined pressurized by my friends. I have most of all my friends and other contacts there. Unless they quit and join Google +, I won’t leave fb.
2) It is useful social media and instead of socialization you can also communicate smt, get informed, promote smt and drive traffic to you site/blog.
I would use Google + only if its features would prove to bring smt extra that the social networks I am using now don’t offer and if it satisfies my needs.” It is valid for any other social network as well.
Great post Gian, found it really interesting.
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Twitter: GianFaye
Hi Andreea! Thanks for the comment~
Yes, Google recently released the Google+ project, I was invited by Persian Poetess. What I liked about it is the feature to separate Friends, Acquaintances, Family, and the people you are Following.
I know it can be done with Facebook, using Lists. But on Google+ it’s much better because you really ‘categorize’ them, not just ‘label’ them.
When I posted this article, Google+ is not yet brought to limelight.
Now, this brings a greater competition between Facebook, the alternatives mentioned by FSF, and Google+.
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Interesting input Gian.
I know that in my field I should be experimental and try everything first to take advantage of their benefits I am, many times, one of those categorized as the mass of users. Those ppl who align to a trend and confirm it only after it has been sketched.
Twitter: GianFaye
I get what you’re saying. So in any case you wouldn’t volunteer for any beta testing, right? I guess, people are just so stoked with this new release as Google is definitely one of the largest names on the tech industry. Let’s wait till they’ve polished everything and maybe I would create another post regarding the newly sparked competition.
Thanks Andreea!
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So far I am not tempted but I will follow your inputs. See if you get me convinced
And my pleasure
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