FB the stuff you already know, but continue to do anyway

This is going to be a different post, it's not about running! Shocked? Normally, I try some kind of long, slow, build up, but this time since this is a different entry, I'm just going to come out and say it:

Facebook is a giant pile!

We all know it, at least we should. Granted, this post is a little late (hey, I've been busy) with this whole story being in the news the past few weeks. Really, should it be any surprise that Facebook is doing anything shady with our info? Not going to hash out their past, anything that got them in the news this time around, but did to some exploring on my own out of curiosity.

First, I get it. As a nerd, I get it. Everybody is in the business of collecting info. Facebook isn't any different than Google. Both use everything we do to make money, we are the product, but I see a glaring difference between the two. Facebook offers absolutely nothing to me in the way of making life better, besides offering a single location where the majority of the people I know visit. Their whole model is offering nothing more than that. Google on the other hand, they actually make things that do things for me. It all started with Gmail and the free storage, Maps, Google Voice, products. Things that do something for me. While they are used to track, monitor, sell better ads towards me, they are still products that are useful. Facebook, nothing.

I mentioned I was curious, so I decided to download my entire Facebook existence on 3/28/2018. The first almost laughable experience is the message Facebook gives just before downloading:


Facebook has the audacity to warn me to protect my own data? Holy shit, the company storing all my data, that just got caught giving more info than they should, is telling me to protect my data? That's funny!

Maybe I'll edit this later with more content. It certainly was interesting checking out what they store, log, and track. As a nerd, it doesn't surprise me because I know this info is there, but it's still creepy as F*CK to see photos taken inside your house with the exact GPS coordinates. Most times, I edit a picture, or take a screenshot of it, so this info isn't included when I "give" it Facebook, but there were obviously times that I forgot to do this. Just think about this one act for a second. From that one picture, they know the exact location it was taken, with the facial recognition certainly know who's in the picture, date taken, date you "gave" them the photo, make and model of your camera (they'll notice the exact moment when you upgrade your phone), IP address you "gave" them the photo from (basically the source of your internet connection, from your house, directly from your phone etc) and probably other things I'm not even thinking of at this moment. That's a ton of free info extra info, I certainly did't intend to give them, all for me taking a goofy selfie with a donut.

But before you think this is a rant about this, it's not. If it were, I'd be telling you how insane you are for using their own app on your phone where there's who knows what info they are pulling from it. This post is more about the following that I find even more interesting.

Here's my Ad info on on my profile download 3/28/2018:



No surprise, I enjoy running, they know that. It's odd, my guess is I clicked a close button to exit out of a Verizon ad. I don't remember, but okay. But look at the list of Advertisers that have my info. One I've never heard of at least the other four I've had contact with. Target, peaks my interest because I've maybe been in the store three times in my life and I suppose it's possible maybe I used a credit card to buy something. Overall, not too bad, right?

Fast forward a couple of Congressional hearings and the fact I deleted my prior Facebook downloaded info, I downloaded my info again 4/10/2018:



What jumps out at me, a Congressional hearing and a few weeks, look at the difference with the Advertisers! Now, this is just a screenshot, but that page scrolls. You see 20 or so, but what you don't see that list goes on and on and on! WTF? What changed? This is kind of disturbing to me. As a nerd, I don't understand how the same request generates this vast difference over a couple of weeks.
If you think for a second Facebook is going to implement better controls, police themselves, or change their shady behavior, I think you are insane. This is about the my last straw and really think it's time to pull the plug on Facebook, for myself.

One last note, for those who might not think that difference is a big deal. Also between these two data dumps, I "cleaned" out a bunch of old messages and old posts. The posts did seem to work, but EVERY message I deleted on 3/28/2018 was still in my data on 4/10/2018!