Most mornings, the first post in my Facebook timeline is from FB asking me:
“Would you like to share this memory?”
And my experience reviewing “Memories” FB chooses to show me each day are mixed bag ranging from “that’s work I’m proud of” (client’s posts I made successful), to “oh I still love that photo,” to “to what the hell was I thinking of?” to cringing because said random post from a random date calls to mind a particularly unpleasant time in real life.
But none of that is worthy of a rant. That’s just all part of FB.
What irks me (and it’s in all features) is how FB acts like my dead friends and acquaintances are still alive. Sometimes it feels merely disconcerting. Other times, it feels downright awful.
I try ignore it. But today when FB reminded me that I tagged my friend Buckie (Don Himpel) in 2016 in a silly little chain-post, and had a live tag to his profile that still exists…it sent me over the edge. And I don’t care for the only option available which would avoid FB experiences like today. That is unfriending and blocking any friend who is dead.
FB does not disclose all their propriety algorithms, nor do they make public all the data they collect. But I use what analytics they do make public with my client. And I find it hard to believe that they do not know when a “user” is no longer among the living. Nor do I think it would take all that much effort or energy or resources.
Instead, FB claims it is the user’s responsibility to handle our “Memorialization” and offers two options.
Tell FB you want them to delete your account after you die. This sounds straightforward but it’s not. And if you’ve ever tried to deal with FB over any administrative or legal matter, you know exactly what I’m talking about. If you haven’t had those experiences, I hope you’re spared that headache.
Name a “legacy” contact, who is effectively your FB account administrator and can either change your profile to “Remembering Gaille” or delete your account and start a group devoted to preserving your memory.
I haven’t made my mind what I’ll choose. If it were simple or if I could handle the details myself, I’d choose Number 1 to make sure FB doesn’t bother or upset any of my living friends and families. Since neither are or will be possible, that takes this out of the running. And as for Number 2, I think a legacy contact needs to be someone you really like and respect (not to mention consider tech-savvy.) Seems like an awful lot to dump on close family or friends…And what happens when they die off? FB keeps mum on that.
By the way if you’re either options interests you, more info’s available on this page:
What will happen to my Facebook account if I pass away?
I know FB’s got their hands full with hackers, bots, hate speech, misinformation, threats of violence, stalking etc, all of which I think they should urgently handle better.
But Facebook, when it comes to the dead…
Just stop it.
Rant over…
Thank You
Thank you subscribers! And thank you all very much for your feedback as I working on getting Pike X ready for “primetime.” Your feedback’s been invaluable and I appreciate that you took time out of your busy schedules to help me.
I still have much work to do, but check out my updated About Page and let me know what you think!
Thanks again,
Gaille