End of Facebook Near? 60% Ready to Dump Site
Users are ready to abandon the social networking cruise ship thanks to recent security issues.
A recent poll conducted by Abingdon, U.K.-based Sophos questioned 1,600 Facebook users and discovered that privacy issues were pushing away over 60-percent of the social website's population. The number consists of 30-percent that are finding it highly likely that they will close their account due to the surrounding privacy issues, and an additional 30-percent saying it was a possibility. 16-percent have already packed up and moved out.
But there's still some hope. 12-percent of the respondents said they wouldn't leave the site, and another 12-percent said it's "not likely" that they'll close their Facebook account. In the overall picture, that's a small number of users willing to stay behind, and indicates a possible end of the popular social website if something isn't done to make Facebook users feel more secure.
Graham Cluley, a senior technology consultant, said that people who work in the IT security field are even more wary about jumping on Facebook than the general consumer, finding it hard to justify the need. "The number of privacy problems are making more people realize that it may not be where they want to be," he said. "Of course, some people may simply reduce the amount of data that they publish on the site rather than quit. The average guy on the street, meanwhile, will probably need a bigger push to quit the site."
He also added that many users may have difficulty quitting cold turkey, as they've grown addicted to posting updates, uploading pictures, chatting live with friends, and so on. While Facebook is working on cleaning up its security mess, the recent poll indicates that the initial first love has worn off and users care more about their privacy than socializing on an unsecured website.
"I think Facebook needs to fundamentally change its attitude towards privacy, putting the needs of its users first and foremost rather than its balance sheets," Cluley said.
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Good hope the CEO eats his words " Dumb f@#%s trust me "
"While Facebook is working on cleaning up its security mess"
That's the problem - it isn't working on cleaning it up, it's working on monetizing user data.
Only 1600 users? That doesn't indicate much. I do hope that facebook takes this more seriously than I do though (their privacy sucks.)
1600 users surveyed... over a million that are oblivious to what's going on. Doubt that anything will change until facebook and public networking "risks" become much more public. I think facebook issues are well known here on Tom's and maybe other tech related news sites, but realistically what percent of facebook users even know what firefox is?? privacy settings? 2 + 2??
Well you can't possibly survey all or even half of a 400million. 1600 might be a small sample size, but it's a start.
In related news, I have already dumped facebook. Not looking back.
Then it's upto us to spread the word, right?
Facebook sucks anyway. Reason: Privacy. I have found a lot of people I use to know off of it, though. Seriously, they need to get rid of crap like Farmville and Fishville. Maybe I'll start developing my own thing.
What kind of security issues exactly?
Of these 60% considering to leave, how many will actually do so? And even if they'd go, the remaining 40% is still more than enough for a commercially healthy Facebook. Sadly, the stupidity of the average Facebook user means that things like security issues and lack of privacy won't hurt FB as much as they should. Most FB users simply don't know what security and privacy are...
I'm glad I never signed up to a social network. I don't need to run a virtual farm, I don't need to spy on my friends, don't want to be monitored by these friends and don't need a bazillion virtual friends to feel popular and loved.
Of that 60% only a max of 10% will leave, Facebook is NOWHERE near its end.
Lord bless this glorious facebook survey!
There is no privacy on the web.
Privacy in a technological society is a myth. All you can do is stare in the surveillance cameras with you middle fingers up. The privacy issues on Facebook are Kindergarten compared to what's going on in other avenues of communication.
effin r-words ... lol
Well you can't possibly survey all or even half of a 400million. 1600 might be a small sample size, but it's a start.In related news, I have already dumped facebook. Not looking back.
+1. I have left too.
There is no privacy on the web.
Incorrect.
Tell me, where am I right now?
Incorrect.
Tell me, where am I right now?
Planet earth
Twitter and tumblr now
Reason I closed my account years ago when they started the implementation of letting everyone know what it is that I did, who I checked out, friended, grouped, etc. Then, you couldn't get rid of that information. I remember years ago the first inbox message from the CEO or technically the PR about the first major privacy issue Facebook had created. It is nothing but bloated now and the light version is nothing useful. I don't need Facebook anyways, I have a cellphone for contact. haha
Thanks to Facebook I'm getting laid all the time. No way I'm gonna quit using it!
I am not on any of the social networking sites. But this survey smells like what comes out of a the south end of a north facing cow.
A more accurate title would be "60% say they are ready to dump site".
It was secure before they let all the sex predator and jailbaits in.
They want MySpace's users and now they are going the way of MySpace
I dont understand why people are even still on there. With all the people getting canned, divorces, and general loss of time actually hanging with people, you would think those days would pass. 4 months of myspace back in HS taught me how much of a waste of time this stuff can become.
Well you can't possibly survey all or even half of a 400million. 1600 might be a small sample size, but it's a start.In related news, I have already dumped facebook. Not looking back.
Facebook themselves could do a decent servey for ALL users.
They are the network after all.
Or you could just not post anything important on facebook...
"OH NOES! Facebook stole the pictures of me passed out naked wiv my boss's daughter. PLZ delete them, Mr. Mark-Z! I reeelly need mai jobs!"
Close your accounts if you want, but Facebook never delete your photos. You've done the damage as soon as you post something. Good thing I never signed up.
I still think the benefits of the network outweigh the negatives, at least for the average user. Facebook may be insecure, but as several people have said, it's a great medium for connecting to people you haven't heard from in awhile. I constantly use it to talk to my friends that don't have cells or are too far away for me to get ahold of easily.
I dont think FB is going anywhere. I hate all that it stands for....yet I check in 2-4 times a day to see what my buddies are up to. Plus, pretty much every business out there is using it. I think all this privacy stuff will do is maybe make people stop putting semi-private stuff on there. No more pictures of your new house and such.
In other news, back in WoW 90% of the people I knew wanted to quit WoW, but only a few of us did.
When something becomes part of your daily life, it's hard to quit, even if you want to.
Seriously, they need to get rid of crap like Farmville and Fishville.
No you.
two of my "friends" quit fbook in the past 2 months, i cant quit tho, the marketplace is too addictive
Only 1600 users? That doesn't indicate much. I do hope that facebook takes this more seriously than I do though (their privacy sucks.)
Please learn some statistics before you comment on the validity of the study. 1600 users is plenty large for a survey like this.