Facebook's response to the recent article about how difficult it is to
leave Facebook:


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/13/technology/13face.html?_r=1&oref=slogi
n


(in today's NYTimes)


Quitting Facebook Gets Easier 


 

Michael Falco for The New York Times

Nipon Das tried unsuccessfully to delete his Facebook account. Facebook
said a technical problem prevented the deletion. 

 



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Published: February 13, 2008

Aiming to address the privacy concerns of disenchanted users, 
Facebook.com
<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/facebook_inc/inde
x.html?inline=nyt-org>  said on Tuesday that it was trying to make it
easier for people to delete their accounts permanently from the social
networking site.

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Related


How Sticky Is Membership on Facebook? Just Try Breaking Free
<http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/technology/11facebook.html?ref=techno
logy>  (February 11, 2008) 


Times Topics: Facebook
<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/facebook_inc/inde
x.html> 


Blogrunner: Reactions From Around the Web
<http://www.blogrunner.com/snapshot/D/2/4/quitting_facebook_gets_easier/

> 



Until now, Facebook has offered only a deactivation option, which keeps
copies of the account's personal information on the company's servers.
It is possible to delete an account fully using a cumbersome manual
method, but it is difficult; many users complained that Facebook did not
provide clear instructions.

On Monday, Facebook modified its help pages to tell people that if they
wanted to remove their accounts entirely, they can direct the company by
e-mail to have it done. But on Tuesday, representatives of Facebook
stopped short of saying the company would introduce a one-step delete
account option. 

"We're always working to improve the user experience," Katie Geminder,
director for user experience and design at Facebook, said in a statement
sent by e-mail. 

"We are measuring the effects of the change we made yesterday, and if we
think more needs to be done to improve the user experience for deleting
an account, we'll test different implementations and measure them
accordingly," she added.

The updated Facebook help page now includes the question "How do I
delete my account?" The answer: "If you do not think you will use
Facebook again and would like your account deleted, we can take care of
this for you. Keep in mind that you will not be able to reactivate your
account or retrieve any of the content or information you have added." 

The entry then says, "If you would like your account deleted, please
contact us using the form at the bottom of the page and confirm your
request in the text box."

Ms. Geminder said that Facebook's policies were a reflection of the fact
that many people came back to Facebook after they stopped using the site
for a time. "On any given day, the number of users reactivating their
accounts is roughly half of the number of users deactivating their
accounts," she said.

As The New York Times reported on Monday, some Facebook users who wished
to close their accounts had been unable to do so, even after contacting
Facebook's customer service representatives. Many departing users, who
could spend weeks or months trying to erase their accounts without
success, turned to unofficial guides like the Facebook users group "How
to permanently delete your Facebook account."

Since Monday, almost 3,000 people have joined the group, which counted
more than 7,000 members on Tuesday evening and had been growing by the
hour. "I honestly did NOT know they kept your data after you deactivated
your account," one new member wrote on the group's board. "I'm not
leaving until I finish university," she added, "but I'll be glad of the
info when I do."

Another new member wrote, "Though I plan to stick around Facebook for a
while, I joined this group so I know how to delete my account/profile
when I do desire to leave. Thank you!"

Magnus Wallin, the Swedish patent examiner who founded the group, said
his reaction to the company's policy change was mixed. "Information on
how to do it is great," he said in an e-mail message. "But it should be
really easily available. Not at the bottom of the help pages. And a
'form' sounds like you have to explain yourself. A regular delete button
would be preferable, in my opinion."

Facebook blamed a technical snag for the predicament of Nipon Das, a
business consultant in Manhattan who spent two months trying to delete
his account but nevertheless continued to receive messages and notes
from friends through Facebook. 

"Mr. Das appears to have an active account on Facebook, which is why you
are able to view his mostly empty profile and why he still may be
receiving messages or friend requests," Ms. Geminder said. "If Mr. Das
wishes to deactivate or delete his account from Facebook, his profile
will not be viewable by anyone."

Mr. Das - who described his plight by quoting lyrics from the Eagles
song "Hotel California" that say, "You can check out any time you like,
but you can never leave" - has found himself cast as an unlikely mascot
for disgruntled Facebook users. Several of them have found his empty
profile and sent him messages, "ranging from Eagles song quotes to those
of support," he said.

"I have turned into the test case," he said.

 

 

___________________________________

Emily May

Special Projects Coordinator

Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow

783 4th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11232

718-369-0303

emay at obtjobs.org <mailto:emay at obtjobs.org> 

 

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