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Happy Birthday Facebook!

02/06/2010 | By Fernando Fonseca
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Dear Facebook, Happy Birthday!

Six years have gone by and it feels like it was yesterday that I started to poke my friends like there was no tomorrow. There are so many things I’m thankful for that I don’t know where to start: The already mentioned pokes, the writings on the wall, Hot or Not, SocialToo, the Like button, the Share button, the pillow fights, the vampire wars, the super pokes, the super pets and this was just the beginning. You, dear Facebook, have allowed me to poke and keep in contact with my family, friends, strangers and stalkers in a way that was totally impossible 6 years ago. How I did it before, I can’t remember.

There is not only that to be thankful for, oh no! It would not be fair on my part to congratulate you, dear Facebook, just for that. See, I love the way you share all my personal data with your advertisers, so that they can bombard my Facebook homepage with advertising that interests me just as much as any Nietzsche’s book interests a parrot. I love the way that complete strangers still can find me even if I don’t want them to and the way that, as soon America wakes up, it is impossible to do anything whatsoever in Facebook if you are in Europe. I guess you call this social responsibility while the detractors usually call it a bad IT system.

In 6 years, dear Facebook, you created a platform where the world revolves, where the economy is strong and still people didn’t loose touch with nature: Farmville, Fishville, Island Paradise are a good example of that: People that never saw a real cow or duck in their lives spend hours and hours clicking away, taking care of their animals and crops. People can open new business and there is never a hint of economic downturn. Have you considered changing your name to Utopia? Oh wait, Utopia is already part of Facebook.

Of course there is much to be done. The Mafia Wars are something I am sure you are concerned about since they represent a real danger to all the users, and specially to their cows, but I think you will manage that with the same sense and sensibility that you don’t manage to delete immediately all the racist and sexist groups that spread like mushrooms. But those are minor issues for Facebook users.
As long as you give them a dislike button they will be happy for another 6 years, I’m sure.

Don’t forget to leave your own Happy Birthday message on the comments ;-)

Image credits: Jessica Diamond via Flickr (Under a Creative Commons License)

More Articles By Fernando Fonseca

Author: Fernando Fonseca

Co-head of PublicSpaces, a company and netlabel based in Barcelona, Spain, Fernando is a serious Douglas Adams fan, cook, tech and gadget geek, strategist as well as an experimental musician. Lover of red wine , gin tonic, sushi, Monty Python and Karaoke, Fernando is involved in many new-media art related projects, (h)activism, and GoogleWave. Send him a tweet in klingon at @fjfonseca: you will make his day.


15 Comments

Diana Adams

February 6th, 2010

Well, guess what Fernando… once again… I haven’t watched Lost and I’m not on Facebook. Suddenly I feel like I’ve been living in a cave. Haha!!

I think Richard has just about talked me into getting on Facebook, so I will be checking that out soon.

So… what is that photo a picture of? Is that the side of a cake with candy on it or am I just craving sugar right now? ;)

Thanks for the great post!

[Reply]

Fernando Fonseca Reply:

You are going to FB???!!!! It will never be the same again! LOL

That is indeed the side of a cake with candy on it ;-) The Eye-Candy cake, I would call it LOL

[Reply]

Misty Belardo

February 6th, 2010

Have been on FaceBook for almost 3 years now and I must admit, I love it as much as I love Twitter. I guess it is a matter of how one uses it and how responsible he or she is when using the social networking platform.

I have connected with family and friends who are far away. Your post made me LOL I love your style of writing! So let me join you in wishing FaceBook Happy 6th Birthday! :D

[Reply]

Fernando Fonseca Reply:

Thank you Misty!
I have mixed feelings about Facebook, specially when it comes to privacy concerns but the fact that I know all of those applications kind of gives me away, right? ;-)

[Reply]

Clement Yeung

February 6th, 2010

I can’t believe you’re not on FB Diana! Connect with me when you’re there :)

[Reply]

Roger Hjulstrom (booksbelow)

February 6th, 2010

I use Facebook rarely, more of a twitter person, but am kept up to date on it by my teen-age daughter who, yes indeed, spends an inordinate amount of time tending her virtual farm, and her virtual aquarium, never seeming to remember we live on a real farm with horse, dog, cats, fish etc that are actual 3 dimensional beings. Maybe if I convinced her we were really in the Matrix she’d be more interested. :-) Glad you’re back writing, we missed you. Happy Birthday Facebook!

[Reply]

Fernando Fonseca Reply:

You mean ranting, right Roger? ;-) Thank you! Glad to be back!

[Reply]

Clement Yeung

February 6th, 2010

OH: regarding the post, I am definitely becoming more and more of a Facebook fan daily.

Their service continues to improve in my opinion but there’s always that balance between transparency and privacy.

How much are you willing to share? :)

[Reply]

Fernando Fonseca Reply:

That is really the question, Clément.

I still haven’t got the “new Facebook” but from what I’ve seen, now you can actually know what games your friends are playing and when was the last time they play them (!). Lots of people will have to do a lot of tweaking on those privacy settings specially if they befriended their boss ;-)

As soon as I have the new FB I will most surely write a post about this.

[Reply]

Tom | Build That List

February 6th, 2010

Qoq~ No idea Facebook had been around that long. I was one of those Myspacer that finally saw the light!

[Reply]

Ct Kingston

February 7th, 2010

“The Mafia Wars are something I am sure you are concerned about since they represent a real danger to all the users, and specially to their cows, but I think you will manage that with the same sense and sensibility that you don’t manage to delete immediately all the racist and sexist groups that spread like mushrooms. But those are minor issues for Facebook users.”

Laughing. I’m laughing.
Good job nailing Facebook with your happy birthday wishes Fernando. Enjoyable read indeed. Next time I login I’ll be sure to poke you.

[Reply]

Fernando Fonseca Reply:

Thank you so much Tina! I’m really happy you enjoyed it! X x X

[Reply]

Tanner K-N

February 8th, 2010

Ha! That was well written, I’m going to have to send this to a few friends of mine, who will really enjoy it.

Quite humorous

[Reply]

Jasmine Guevara

February 14th, 2010

Thanks for sharing. 6 years old? Ha! No wonder I see todder-like behavior sometimes. One day they’re so cute and adorable and even helpful and another day they can be quite annoying. Ah, growing pains and joys–yet, I’m thankful. I’ve said bye to Facebook, Friendster, Hi5, etc.

[Reply]

Jasmine Guevara

February 14th, 2010

oops – correction: i’ve said by to myspace, friendster, hi5, etc.

[Reply]

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