Foucault and the Facebook
Friends, Facebookers, Foucauldians,
Check out this email exchange - I had a minor issue I was trying to have resolved - attempted to go through the proper channels to resolve it (which was a labyrinth of unanswered question forums, no overt and accessible help email prompt - finally found a query window) - and this is the response I got. Instead of dealing with my issue, they decided to disable my account. Facebook, it seems, though touting itself as a cleaner more safe Myspace, as a methodology of social networking, is actually a panoptic tool. A place where you already know the people you are connected with should not need such sensitive information. Knowing things such as date of birth, or "real full name" (whatever arcane notion that entails) are irrelevant to a social networking program which proports, in esteemed and elevated contrast to something as crass as myspace, to be an algorithmic representation of people one already knows in real life. Foucault and Lyotard and Orwell must be smiling somewhere.
So for now, my account is suspended. Meanwhile, I'm back on Myspace. I think Facebook is proving to be a problem. I did a google search related to my issue, and this suspension of my account, and it seems this is a theme with Facebook. Draconian control of information. Intentionally vague "Terms of Use" language. Swift and immediate disabling of accounts. And for what reason?....
On Mon, Jul 6, 2009 at 9:29 PM, The Facebook Team <
privacy+nygaang@facebook.com> wrote:
Hi Billy,
We can assist you with this matter, but will first need you to provide your real date of birth. Your account has been temporarily suspended because it lists a fake date of birth. Providing false information to create an account is violation of Facebook's Terms of Use. Please respond to this message with your full real name and date of birth (month/day/year) and we will proceed with your original inquiry.
Thanks for contacting Facebook,
Homer
User Operations
Facebook
-----Original Message to Facebook-----
From:
comparwj@muohio.eduTo:
info@facebook.comSubject: I Can't Block Someone
Name of person to block: *******
The person's network: more than likely, Cincinnati
The person's email: unknown
Steps to reproduce the problem: *** is friends with several of my mutual friends including: ******, ******, ******. I had sent a query recently, and it was said to have been responded to; however, I am still unable to block him, nor does he appear on my "blocked" list. What do I need to do to block this person?
-----End Original Message to Facebook-----