May 23, 2011
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Facebook vs. Google
I don’t really know much of what’s going on behind the scenes of Facebook or Google, but as a consumer who uses products (just one product from Facebook) from both these companies, I have always had some kind of strange gut feelings for these two. Facebook is my opinion is evil–well, not evil as trying to take over the world and suppress mankind, but world domination in the collection of private information and using it for it’s own purely capitalistic reasons. Google’s motto is “Don’t he evil.” Although flawed in many things, I have a feeling that it’s good–trying to make information accessible to anyone who has an Internet connection.
I always have this weird feeling that Facebook is trying to create this product where we voluntarily provide then with our own personal information and they exploit it. I try to limit as few personal things on it as possible, especially with their Terms of Service (that no one reads) that states that whatever information we provide on Facebook belongs to them. On top of that, the TOS also allows them to provide the information to others. Fact or Myth? Some due diligence will confirm that, but the way they market the product, I can’t help feel like they are tricking us to provide them with what they want.
Google in the otherhand has provided product after product to help us make our lives easier and gain whatever information we need with just an Internet connection. I feel safe with whatever I provide to Google, which isn’t much information at all. Sure, they have much of my life in the GMail service, but the information doesn’t belong to them in anyway, neither stated nor implied.
It really feels like a good versus evil thing between these two companies. It could totally be the way the companies market themselves or how they deal with flaws within their system. Maybe I just don’t feel that Facebook is on our side. I don’t know what it is, but ultimately, who I trust.
Am I the only person who thinks about this or feels this way?
Comments (13)
LIKE! couldn’t agree more!
facebook is the devil. you are correct in this gut feeling.
both are capitalists in its core to me.. of course, if i have to choose, i choose google.. and i think all that is to know about me is already in GMail, GDocs and Google Maps… i just hope google don’t have any evil intention on me…
as for facebook, people in there are on a spell and willingly give vital infos to them like crazy.. for no beneficial purpose whatsoever, most of the time…
But I don’t get party invites from Google.
oooooo…. seriously… which is the lesser of the evils?
this post made me go to my facebook and see what information i have posted there. nothing too personal, *phew*… But I agree, facebook doesn’t seem to be on our side…
facebook is evil. i dont even use my birth name or put any of my personal information on it
both companies have strict rules regarding user privacy. Facebook does use all your info, but in aggregate form, much like google does. Google uses browser info and email info to send u targeted ads just like facebook uses your info to send u ads. It’s all really similar stuff at the end.
I don’t really think one company is more evil than the other, they’re both out to make as much money as they possibly can.
For an evil company, do some research on zynga haha.
Of course Facebook feels more evil, especially with all of the “yes, we have all of your information and anybody else can have it, too!” mentality it projects. That’s why I definitely limit the amount and kind of information I provide to Facebook. Makes me feel a little bit better. But no matter what, if somebody wants to get information about you, they will be able to do it. Where there is a will, there’s a way. And that’s pretty darn scary.
i am a little uncomfortable with how much google probably knows about me, but your info about how google doesn’t claim to own any of it is somewhat of a comfort. but, gmail recently asked me for my cell phone number in case i lose my password to log in – and google gps is awesome, i loved that on my android phone while it was still working. and it was weird how my phone would also give me little facebook notifications of the people in my contacts, including their birthdays, I guess because I was logging into FB on that phone, too. so google knows/knew my phone numbers, my gps location, my friends and family member’s birth dates.
Social networking is the devil.
I agree with you to some point, Facebook is like a disease that you have but dont want to get rid of…… however, I think they have thier TOS just to protect them selves… i do not think they would sell our personal information or use our personal information to blackmail us, but use it as a way to know what we like and advertise that specific product towards us… just my two cents..
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