Facebook’s staggering dominance of social media is a thorn in the side of its competitors, governments and anti-monopoly advocates. Recently, one of Facebook’s co-founders, Chris Hughes, in a New York Times editorial, called for the company’s break-up on moral grounds. Immediately, the idea came under attack from Mark Zuckerberg as well as mainstream tech journalists. A friend just told me, “Dude, are you serious? Mark couldn’t do wrong. After all, he pledges to donate 99% of his shares to charity.”  (The fallacy has a name: “appeal to accomplishment.”) Why Is It Important to Break Up Facebook? Refer to the Hughes article again where he gives… Read more

Have you ever had the birthday of someone who has passed away show up on your birthday list on Facebook? It’s happened several times to me after friends pass away unexpectedly. That reminder of what should have been a happy occasion can feel like a gut-punch when Facebook reminds you that they are no longer with you. Facebook has added several features that allow for someone else to memorialize your account or delete it all together should you pass away. Although a Facebook account is not going to be a priority for you as you deal with the death, it is something you should… Read more