FaceBook Home: Will you install it on your Android smartphone?

Ok, I freely admit, I'm freaked out by FB in the first place, so it's no surprise this really bothers me.

Facebook Home is an Android app that acts like a skin, updating the standard Android mobile operating system with a more modern, Facebooky decor. The Android home screen is replaced with a graphic version of the Facebook news feed that automatically flips through the latest happenings from your friends. The phone's home page has additional Facebook features for posting to the site and communicating with friends.


Facebook Home is a more convenient way for heavy Facebook users to use the social network's services. It is also a more powerful tool for Facebook to potentially collect information about a person, and it gives the company more ways and places to serve up ads.....


Some pundits and privacy experts are already raising concerns about the potential for data grabs by Facebook. Om Malik of the site GigaOm says, "this application erodes any idea of privacy. If you install this, then it is very likely that Facebook is going to be able to track your every move, and every little action."
And Parker Higgins, an activist with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, told Digital Trends: "They will get information about who you're calling, how often, and how long you're speaking to them. That's a lot of information, and combined with the rest of your Facebook communications, (it) could paint a very clear picture of your private life."

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Facebook Home, privacy and you - CNN.com

There is a lot more in that article.

So just a gut reaction, will you be installing this app?

There is no way in hell that I'm having anything to do with this. I use Facebook for business only and I'm thinking of getting rid of that too so I don't have any reason to use this in the first place. However, even if I was an active Facebook user, I wouldn't touch it simply because Facebook is one of the shadiest businesses in tech, if not ever. I also just think it's really dumb to have Facebook take such a prominent role on one's phone.

i anticipate a LOT of facebook addicts will soon be using this app

Gina said:

So just a gut reaction, will you be installing this app?

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I'm not that into Facebook, so no.

ThePlayDrive said:

There is no way in hell that I'm having anything to do with this. I use Facebook for business only and I'm thinking of getting rid of that too so I don't have any reason to use this in the first place. However, even if I was an active Facebook user, I wouldn't touch it simply because Facebook is one of the shadiest businesses in tech, if not ever. I also just think it's really dumb to have Facebook take such a prominent role on one's phone.

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I cannot argue with a a single word. I don't have nor need to use FB for anything, and I'm keeping it that way.

I bolded, for emphasis, my feelings. Nothing about FB inspires my trust.

Jerry said:

I'm not that into Facebook, so no.

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I'm not on, into it, or touch it in any way, if I can avoid it. I had to cross the line last week in dealing with a business, but I didn't end up going with that company for my needs. I hated that I had to go there to communicate with them.

I use Facebook frequently. I don't have this app on my phone but I feel that the Facebook skin app wouldn't have anymore difference from having the generic app. I probably won't get a Facebook skin though, I don't need to be bombarded by stuff 24/7

I refuse to use Facebook at all, why would I put it on my phone? Don't have an account, will never have an account.

I usually try to delete or disabled the social media bloatware off my phone.
Adding it is not an option.

not installing it. facebook sucks on mobile, but i don't do their current mobile app, either. they already have enough information about me to sell to advertisers.

i understand that's the reason that facebook exists, and i don't have a problem with it. once the entertainment the site brings me becomes less than my apprehension about what they are giving advertisers, i might just stop using it. for now, though, it's a good way to find out about stuff going on with people i care about. plus, it's an audience for my content. i will say, though, that my newsfeed has become largely unreadable because of boring bull**** graphics. also, there's this trend of posting horrifying pics of mangled dogs and children to raise "awareness" or some such ****. i'm currently spamming the hell out of anyone who does that **** with pics of baby bunnies being cute, and then blocking their asses. baby bunnies for world peace, bitches.

I use Facebook pretty regularly, but if I still had an Android, no way I would do this. Don't want the ads.

Helix said:

not installing it. facebook sucks on mobile, but i don't do their current mobile app, either. they already have enough information about me to sell to advertisers.

i understand that's the reason that facebook exists, and i don't have a problem with it. once the entertainment the site brings me becomes less than my apprehension about what they are giving advertisers, i might just stop using it. for now, though, it's a good way to find out about stuff going on with people i care about. plus, it's an audience for my content. i will say, though, that my newsfeed has become largely unreadable because of boring bull**** graphics. also, there's this trend of posting horrifying pics of mangled dogs and children to raise "awareness" or some such ****. i'm currently spamming the hell out of anyone who does that **** with pics of baby bunnies being cute, and then blocking their asses. baby bunnies for world peace, bitches.

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My quick fix for crap like that was just to hide them from my feed. I hate that crap.

Superfly said:

My quick fix for crap like that was just to hide them from my feed. I hate that crap.

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me, too. seriously.

the only silver lining has been the time i've spent finding pics of baby bunnies to spam the hell out of them with.

my battle flag :

update : just had to send another cute bunny pic to someone.

i may not be able to stop evil in the world, but i can dilute the **** out of it.

I recently got a smartphone, under duress. There's no way I will ever sign up to Facebook.

I dont understand peoples hatred of Facebook. It is a brilliant tool to keep up to date with family and friends, especially if you are far from home. Much of the "stick" Facebook has been getting for the last few years is what I call Error 40 issues.... the problem is 40 cm from the screen (aka the user), not at Facebook.

As for this piece of software.. sure will try it out, but as a default on my Android phone.. nope.. unless it is massively better than their normal app.

It's trendy to hate Facebook, I think.

PeteEU said:

I dont understand peoples hatred of Facebook. It is a brilliant tool to keep up to date with family and friends, especially if you are far from home. Much of the "stick" Facebook has been getting for the last few years is what I call Error 40 issues.... the problem is 40 cm from the screen (aka the user), not at Facebook.

As for this piece of software.. sure will try it out, but as a default on my Android phone.. nope.. unless it is massively better than their normal app.

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Right, if people disagree with you about something as subjective as the value of social network, they are the problem. LOL, that's rich.

I don't like it because of it's blatant disregard for its users' privacy, it's ridiculously annoying timeline, how it fosters a make believe world of "everything is wonderful" and how it perpetuates harmful "cliquish" behaviors about pre-teens and teens. It is, however, good for checking up on people you haven't seen for a while, organizing events efficiently and other tools, but for me, the bad outweighs the good.

No thanks, I use Android because I want a UI I can modify and customize.

Also, I find Facebook's data agenda rather creepy and try to use my account only for keeping in touch by private message. Even then I have no expectation of privacy, hate when I am tagged in a photo and haven't updated mine in years. With this skin I have no doubt Facebook will be keeping track of your global position.

ThePlayDrive said:

Right, if people disagree with you about something as subjective as the value of social network, they are the problem. LOL, that's rich.

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Err no. I am saying that I dont understand why and that most issues with Facebook (and computers in general) are the fault of users not the product itself. Privacy fears on Facebook.. guess what, make your profile private.. problem solved. Afraid that Facebook will sell or use your information for commercial purposes? Guess what.. dont use the Internet...yes I mean all the Internet. Every time you are online, someone is making a buck off you and what you do.. deal with it or leave the net.

I don't like it because of it's blatant disregard for its users' privacy,

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Eh? How on earth are they any different than any other Internet based company?

it's ridiculously annoying timeline,

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Then dont look at it. I dont for the most part. The newsfeed is fine for me.

how it fosters a make believe world of "everything is wonderful"

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Come on.. it does no such thing. Now you are reaching to say the least. Facebook is what people put on it, nothing more nothing less.

and how it perpetuates harmful "cliquish" behaviors about pre-teens and teens.

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LOL and so what? That was around before Facebook and will be around after Facebook... or have you forgotten what it is like being a teen? So they are not hanging on the corner anymore, but on Facebook or random social network.. big deal.

It is, however, good for checking up on people you haven't seen for a while, organizing events efficiently and other tools, but for me, the bad outweighs the good.

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Well that is your choice.. just as it is your choice on Facebook to give access to people you want, and it is your choice what you post and use on Facebook. But it seems you want to blame Facebook for things that are actually your choice...

Personally I have issues with Facebook, but they are mostly related on how they do things .. apps, games and so on. As a social network, I find it great and only just behind Google+ and far far ahead of Twitter. Sadly my family are Facebookers and not Google+ people so I go where the family is.

PeteEU said:

Come on.. it does no such thing. Now you are reaching to say the least. Facebook is what people put on it, nothing more nothing less.

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It can certainly be something less, one can unsubscribe from their feed updates from ugly people, negative people and losers.

Then its all happy people, babies, wedding photos and well presented meals.

PeteEU said:

I dont understand peoples hatred of Facebook. It is a brilliant tool to keep up to date with family and friends, especially if you are far from home. Much of the "stick" Facebook has been getting for the last few years is what I call Error 40 issues.... the problem is 40 cm from the screen (aka the user), not at Facebook.

As for this piece of software.. sure will try it out, but as a default on my Android phone.. nope.. unless it is massively better than their normal app.

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I wouldn't "hate" FaceBook were it not for Zuckerbergs's incessant need to erode our privacy while using it. His sketch practice of changing settings without adequate notice to users, making it harder and harder to switch all the right toggles so a profile can truly be locked down, that timeline thing (people delete stuff for a reason, so that it gone and not for everyone's perusal because he decided it should be). That is all done in bad faith and no matter how FB tries to reassure the public they aren't collecting more data than they will admit to, these constant transgressions and aggressive changes raise red flags for me.

If Zuckerberg displayed a greater level of integrity and respect for the user, I might have been a huge fan of FB. I like keeping in easy contact with my family and friends (I wouldn't use Farmville or any such other application). But my family and friends are not his business and nor the business of people outside my determined circle of friends and family. My kids get notices from friends of friends or family they have no clue about. I certainly don't want Big Brother FB knowing who I call, how long and having my texts go through that program.

That said, I don't like how some of my extended extended (2 levels) family use it to pick a fight in public, discuss private matters that are not need to know for anybody outside those effected or to make snide comments. Or, as PB said, the nasty cliquish behavior of pre-teens and teens.

FB enables that behavior which I never had to confront in my lifetime, til now.

/rant off

To all users of FB, I mean no insult to you. You find it has value and that's fine.

Actually, I find amusement in Facebook fights. I wish I saw them more often. People have the tendency to be more "vocal" online, and say things they wouldn't normally say in person. When this happens, I grab a bowl of popcorn and buckle down for the ride. :lol: Is that terrible? Yeah, I'm sure it is.

PeteEU said:

Err no. I am saying that I dont understand why and that most issues with Facebook (and computers in general) are the fault of users not the product itself. Privacy fears on Facebook.. guess what, make your profile private.. problem solved. Afraid that Facebook will sell or use your information for commercial purposes? Guess what.. dont use the Internet...yes I mean all the Internet. Every time you are online, someone is making a buck off you and what you do.. deal with it or leave the net.

Eh? How on earth are they any different than any other Internet based company?

Then dont look at it. I dont for the most part. The newsfeed is fine for me.

Come on.. it does no such thing. Now you are reaching to say the least. Facebook is what people put on it, nothing more nothing less.

LOL and so what? That was around before Facebook and will be around after Facebook... or have you forgotten what it is like being a teen? So they are not hanging on the corner anymore, but on Facebook or random social network.. big deal.

Well that is your choice.. just as it is your choice on Facebook to give access to people you want, and it is your choice what you post and use on Facebook. But it seems you want to blame Facebook for things that are actually your choice...

Personally I have issues with Facebook, but they argree mostly related on how they do things .. apps, games and so on. As a social network, I find it great and only just behind Google+ and far far ahead of Twitter. Sadly my family are Facebookers and not Google+ people so I go where the family is.

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The vast majority of your post is a red herring. I was responding to claim that you don't understand why people dislike Facebook by explaining why I dislike Facebook. Whether or not I choose to use Facebook or "all the Internet" is irrelevant to the problems I perceive with the social network. I never said that I was unwilling to use anything. I said that there are problems with it.

You don't have to agree with the problems I see, but you seem to have a serious issue with just letting people have different opinions on you on a social network and I'm seriously not about to get into a point by point debate about why I should or should not dislike Facebook. I'm starting to understand why people don't like to debate you. Never did before.

ThePlayDrive said:

The vast majority of your post is a red herring. I was responding to claim that you don't understand why people dislike Facebook by explaining why I dislike Facebook. Whether or not I choose to use Facebook or "all the Internet" is irrelevant to the problems I perceive with the social network. I never said that I was unwilling to use anything. I said that there are problems with it.

You don't have to agree with the problems I see, but you seem to have a serious issue with just letting people have different opinions on you on a social network and I'm seriously not about to get into a point by point debate about why I should or should not dislike Facebook. I'm starting to understand why people don't like to debate you. Never did before.

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And all I am saying is that your dislike is based on some falsehoods and user error issues and not actual Facebook related issues. It is fully up to you if you like or dislike or use or not use Facebook and it is up to you if you have actual factual issues with the site or it is based on irrational peer pressure or that you might hate the color blue. But saying that I cant point out the inconsistencies with your views is a bit...