Facebook User Win
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FACEBOOK ALLOWS USERS TO GET (A COPY OF) THEIR DATA BACK
After a few run-ins with the press and public over privacy and user control, and one not-so-positive movie, Facebook now deserves a hat tip for doing what many people thought it never would: allowing users to download a copy of everything they’ve uploaded.
Now, some snarky ones out there might say “but that’s not the same as their deleting your data if you request”, and that’s true. However, it is a Good Thing ™.
Here’s why it’s good business. If Facebook didn’t allow people to take their data with them, they could be accused of strong-arming people into not quitting the service. After all, who would deactivate their account if it meant losing some photos or videos or even losing track of all the contact information you imported into the site. With this move, Facebook is saying “you’re free to leave if you want”, and that’s how it should be. Companies should make you want to stay a customer though what they offer next, not by imposing switching costs.
