Facebook unveiled three new features today, and the most interesting among them is definitely groups. Yes, there was a “groups” function before, but according to Mark Zuckerberg, the only thing the two have in common is the name. The newly hatched tool allows users to create, uh, groups within their networks, and then chat or share with that group only. Behold, an explanatory video:
Zuckerberg and co also showed off a new download tool that allows you to download everything you’ve ever posted to Facebook, all in one file, and a new dashboard setting that lets users see how applications have accessed their data. “As you start having more social and personalized experiences across the web, it’s important that you can verify exactly how other sites are using your information to make your experience better,” Zuckerberg wrote on Facebook’s blog. “We’ve heard loud and clear that you want more control over what you share on Facebook — to manage exactly who sees it and to understand exactly where it goes.”
I think these new features look awesome, PopWatchers. What about you?
Oh so this is just like when you have a group that’s private? Silly thing to post about EW.
I want the Unsubscribe feature permanently!
Finally, cliques come to facebook. That should make things easier for today’s youth *eye roll*
Exactly what I thought. Kids already start “clubs” specifically to exclude and bully others, and now you can put it in writing on Facebook, and the other kids will never know what they’re saying behind their backs. I do see the benefit in the feature (hide your posts from your parents, share inside jokes with just people from your family or other groups, etc.) but there is also that major drawback…I wouldn’t have wanted that kind of feature around when I was a younger kid. Kids (and adults too, unfortunately) can be mean!
Although I do suppose there’s plenty of bullying that goes on on Facebook already, not like this is going to make it THAT much worse…
I think this is less about bullies excluding people as segregating your social circles the way I do in real life. I have videos and comments that I want to share with friends, but not necessarily with my parents, underage cousins, bosses, etc.
THANK YOU, Dede. Exactly.
Or, they’ll just not friend the people they’re not actually friends with on Facebook. Facebook itself is already a clique: you don’t have to friend anyone you don’t want to and you don’t have to make all of your info public. Having sub-groups is just a way to keep from boring the friends who don’t care about XYZ with XYZ related updates.
I jumped ship back in May. That South Park episode majorly shamed me, and ate at me for weeks until I just couldn’t take it anymore. C’est la vie.
What south park episode??
I agree with that! It was the one where Stan was the last to join Facebook and when he finally did he friended the wrong person so everyone unfriended him. I already thought it was a huge timesuck this really hit home with me.
Parents need to protect their kids. Not facebook.
That statement doesn’t make sense. How is this about protecting kids? Unless you mean parents hiding some of their updates from their kids?
Heard of the anti disco movement? There should be an anti facebook movement!! Sick of hearing about it, and sick of being pressured to join up!! No i do not want to be friends with facebook. There is a reason why people who are no longer in my life are no longer in my life…don’t need them looking me up….