Callers On NPR Whine About How Facebook Has Ruined Their Lives

Michael Krasny took on the Facebook IPO today on Forum (a morning talk show on NPR's Bay Area affiliate), and not surprisingly, the call-in audience had A LOT to say about how Facebook has affected — and ruined — their lives.

A mother of four called in, saying that she and three of her children use Facebook, but she now finds the whole thing "deceptive and intrusive" and "dirty." Regarding their strategy when it comes to using data and implementing privacy controls, she says "they continue to default to expose more and more of your information until you figure it out."

Another tech-saturated woman from the Peninsula calls in to say, "I don't get it — it's just one more thing I have to check... I don't understand how it's become a daily part of my life and the lives of everyone around me... What's happened to us??!?"

Some of the panelists and callers discussed the relationships people have on Facebook as being fairly flimsy and fake, but at least one person called in to say "you can connect amazingly with someone through posts and comments" and says these connections are "very real."

But when such a successful company goes public, there's bound to be backlash. There was plenty of national TV news coverage in the last day or two hating on Facebook, at least by privacy advocates, academics, and curmudgeons who want to judge you for having 800 "friends." The general gist, including from callers on Forum is that peoples' "virtual relationships" and fake friends on Facebook are starting to supplant real relationships. Of course, a Facebook "backlash" got some ink back in 2007 when social ads were first introduced. Clearly these backlashes and groups of paranoiacs are dwarfed by the billions on the site who don't give a damn about sharing their photos and personal information.

Listen to the whole show below:

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By Jay Barmann in Arts & Entertainment on February 2, 2012 2:15 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

dd7

Facebook is a waste of time. Don't use it, don't want it.

LesFleursDuMal

Michael Krasny was an awesome lit professor at SF State. Thats all.

MARSupial_possum

Why do people use fakebook only to complain about it? That's akin to beating your head against a wall. Masochists!

Leanne Maxwell

I hope that's a Jitterbug she's holding in the pic.

rickdeslick

signed off facebook for good a few years ago and have never felt more free or truly connected with the people that are still in my life.

and trust me, a message telling someone you have diarrhea is much more appreciated when there's ink and a stamp on it. how many of us have even seen the handwriting of our friends?

i'm no oldie, but i saw the light a few years ago. social media leaves you empty. and those supposed conversations and bonds are meaningless.

MeowMixSF

SFist is being mean.

doogiehowsah123

FYI, KQED is not "NPR." Forum is a local program that airs only on KQED. NPR is the national network that provides programs like All Things Considered to local stations. NPR does have a few syndicated call-in shows but Forum isn't one of them. So, really, these aren't "callers on NPR" at all, these are callers on KQED.

dantsea

I noticed that many of the people I know who are loud, demanding, "pay attention to me" types really, really loathe Facebook & Twitter. I assume it's because of dwindling attention being paid to their special specialness. So I usually point them to Chowhound & Yelp, and they're happy again.

Nos Feratu

Facebook, what can I say? I'm undead and loving it.

BombaySplashVermouth

Facebook. Don't use it for anything - simple solution.And if a friend says she uses it to communicate tell her to send an envelope with a letter in it and a stamp on it.

Peanut_Butter

Median age of NRP-listener: 50?

EricPanzer

If Facebook wants to behave ethically and kindly, it should make its privacy policies and controls transparent, understandable, and customizable. On the other hand, if you want something kept private, don't put it to paper or pixel. Imagine the most gossipy, loose-lipped person you know and multiple by them by a google (pun intended) and you've got the internet. Don't tell the internet things you don't want everyone in the world to know.

Blaming Facebook for your superficial or otherwise lacking social life is like blaming sitcoms for your obesity. Last I checked, you can still limit your use, close your account, and/or turn off your computer. Having a social life takes effort: you have to pry yourself off the couch, organize crap, communicate with people, and accept the fact that people will always flake more than you like. Welcome to real life, please keep your feckless, irrational whining inside the vehicle and away from NPR.

Buffalobleu

I liked facebook better when it was an actual book, before it all went online. You just can't replicate the feel and smell of an actual facebook in your hands.

exbaytriate

i have an app that makes the sound of a page turning when you click on a link. i use it to remind me of the good old days of the facebook and, oh yeah ... and the sound of the page turning for porno magazines.

GG

Did they complain about those new "talkie" motion pictures too? I hate the way the sound ruins the mood. It's vulgar. And don't get me started on motion pictures filmed in COLOR, UGH.

splicernyc

If it wasn't for Facebook I never would have reconnected with all the people who didn't remember they bullied me in high school.

B S

It is ridiculous that people are getting all upset about Facebook privacy concerns. Facebook is not a right, folks. If you are worried about the security of your FB data, don't agree to the terms and don't use Facebook. While it is a great way to spy on your old GF and waste the day at work, using Facebook is not necessary.

Politburo

I generally agree, but when Facebook doesn't actually delete stuff that you delete, that's kind of fucked up.

s b

As a coach once told me about Notre Dame football, "half the people love em, half the people hate em, all the people watch em."

fizzandpop

In no way do Michael Krasny listeners take everything way to seriously.

jackterrier

Michael Krasny during the first hour is alright: insightful, soothing etc. But holy shit the callers in the second hour have more in common with Michael Savage's mouthbreathers than they're willing to admit.