Most hated Companies, Facebook Wins for Being Addictive
Recently, Facebook ranked number one amongst the most hated websites, according to a survey done by 24/7 Wall Street. For a site that has 800 million active users, many were curious why everyone claimed to hate Facebook, however the main reason could be that they simply liked it too much.
While some people reported that they hated Facebook for more serious reasons, such as the lack of privacy, a greater majority of people seemed to hate Facebook due to the fact that they were addicted to using it.
According to Forbes magazine, "research at Carnegie Mellon University shows that Facebook has essentially become a worldwide photo identification database." While that may good news for cops attempting to tract suspects in a case, the rest of the population has a good reason to be concerned.
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CMU researchers were able to rely strictly on Facebook's public profile information and the use of easily accessible facial recognition software to access very private information. Such information included something as small as finding secret Match.com accounts to something as serious as identifying social security numbers.
"Drawing upon previous research, they were also relatively successful at guessing individuals' Social Security numbers. From there, of course, it is just an automated click to your Google profile, LinkedIn work history, credit report, and many other slices of private information," Forbes reported.
This could also be bad news for criminals since even law enforcement has turned to Facebook, considering it an effective tool for snatching criminals. Police have found it particularly useful for catching gang members who post things like pictures of their tattoos online. Some criminals had even confessed to their crimes online.
"They want to brag," said Greg Antonsen, deputy inspector for the New York Police Department. "Never underestimate their desire to show off. It works against them."
However, despite the alarming news, people seemed more annoyed with Facebook for its addictive qualities. An entire group on Facebook has been made for such addicts called "Dear facebook, I hate you for being so addictive! Jk :( I love You."
"I'm an addict. I just get lost in Facebook," Cynthia Newton told CNN. "My daughter gets so PO'd at me, and really it is kind of pathetic. It's not something I'm particularly proud of. I just get so sucked in."
The mother reported that she spent an average of 20 hours a week on the social networking site, sometimes even neglecting her duties as a parent. Some therapists agree that Facebook could actually be an addiction.
"Last Friday, I had three clients in my office with Facebook problems," Paula Pile, a marriage and family therapist in Greensboro, North Carolina told CNN. "It's turned into a compulsion -- a compulsion to dissociate from your real world and go live in the Facebook world," she said.
