Are you annoyed enough with Facebook to completely quit the social networking giant? Are you sufficiently concerned about your privacy to finally sever the ties with the website?
Controversy has been running hot in recent weeks as privacy and usability changes stemming from Facebook’s F8 conference have left many users feeling jilted and abused. Enough is enough, some people say, and they are organizing.
Enter their creation, Quit Facebook Day (QFD). On May 31, the set date for QFD, a horde of people who have previously pledged to leave Facebook will do so en masse. Their stated concern seems reasonable enough: “We just can’t see Facebook’s current direction being aligned with any positive future for the web, so we’re leaving.”
Is It Working?
No, even with sizable free publicity from writers who found it interesting (see this post) the event has failed to sign up very many participants. At the time of writing, a meager 3215 people have promised to quit. Hardly an impressive count.
Not to denigrate the actions of the individuals, but as Facebook is growing by more than 500,000 people a day, 3,000 or so people quitting will not even cause a blip on their radar.
It Is Still Early
The 31st is nearly two weeks away, and by then the event may have found new momentum. After all, things do spread virally online these days; the QFD might catch a fad wave of its own.
Will the event, even with a surge of support change what Facebook is up to? No it will not, and that is to be expected. Facebook is shooting for the middle of the road, the mass market, and thus fringe groups cause it little worry. You cannot grow as Facebook does without being utterly mainstream. If some technologically minded people stage a small protest and leave, so be it.
Facebook is not merely winning, but is crushing its dwindling competition. The Facebook-Twitter race aside, Facebook has little in the way of serious threats to its business.
Will You Join In?
If you want to take part in QFD head to their website, and pledge to quit by giving them your Twitter username as proof of intent. You can have the website send you a reminder by email if you feel so inclined.
Since I last checked some 12 new people have made the promise to take the no-Facebook plunge. Will you join them?
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