Skype’s Facebook permissions: Are you sure you want to do this?

Today, Skype launched Skype 5.4 for Mac Beta with the same Facebook integration found in Skype 5.5 for Windows. We reviewed the latest update here and in doing so, I had to connect my Skype and Facebook accounts. I felt more than a slight period of hesitation.

I have nearly 2,000 “friends” on Facebook, and only 60 on Skype, which are mostly professional contacts who I need to reach at all times. Now, with the easy access to my Facebook contacts that Skype provides, I run the risk of social bombardment! Although the ability to instantly video chat all of my contacts, call them on multiple numbers or send them an instant message is temptingly convenient.

But is the integration and convenience worth the risk? It’s not about how much you trust Skype with your information, it’s about how much you love Skype being just the way it is. Do you really want to push your entire social graph into one of the world’s finest communication tools? It feels like trying to shove a hot dog into a parking meter.

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Featured image credit: Shutterstock/Viorel Sima

Story by Courtney Boyd Myers

Courtney Boyd Myers is the founder of audience.io, a transatlantic company designed to help New York and London based technology startups gr (show all) Courtney Boyd Myers is the founder of audience.io, a transatlantic company designed to help New York and London based technology startups grow internationally. Previously, she was the Features Editor and East Coast Editor of TNW covering New York City startups and digital innovation. She loves magnets + reading on a Kindle. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter @CBM and Google +.