Know-How Exchange : Social Media

Dear Don,

"Facebook Imprisoned Me!" Er, no. Facebook have done no such thing. Here's a link to the page the page I presume is the page you're talking about https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=267102062398&v=wall&ref=sear...

If Facebook has trimmed your wings, they've done so because
of some issue to do with copyright, or because of THEIR INTERPRETATION (real or imagined) of your violation of their terms of service. Check your TOS really, REALLY carefully, then come back.

Here are their current TOS https://www.facebook.com/terms.php

Here's something worth noting for all users of social media, regardless of the platform: All content and behavior on Facebook is subject to scrutiny and review. ALL OF IT! Because the platform is controlled by Facebook, they control what gets posted or said.

If any of your behavior or posting has been deemed as SPAM, Facebook has the right to look into the matter, even if this means shutting down your account and denying you access to content you've previously posted.

Regardless of your thoughts, any content you post on Facebook (and this applies to ALL Facebook users), none of your posted content is "yours". Read that again.

As for your stuff being your digital asset, that might be true, but
as your asset, it's your responsibility to back up your records.

If you've posted content, sent messages, or if you've posted anything on Facebook it is YOUR responsibility to make a copy of that information for your records, including a list of the names of the people following you.

What you may NOT do is harvest people's e-mail addresses with the intention of adding them to a mailing list. I'm not saying you've done this, but it's against Facebook's TOS and it's in direct violation of anti SPAM laws, all of which require a double opt in.

If you've sent messages that have been flagged as spam, this might well be the problem.

If you've posted information on your own Website, then yes, the content's yours. If you've posted content on Facebook's platform you,
in effect, GIVE Facebook control over your content: ALL of it!
Messages, posts, images, videos, the works.

All of this stuff about it being a crime, and about it being the work of "fascists in some powerful organization" and about them having "a dirty, evil hand in this. As long as I'm alive I'm not going to let scumbags go free!" is all well and good but sadly, it makes you sound less than the seasoned professional I know you to be.

Cool your jets. Ask for DETAILS and SPECIFICS on the breach of their TOS. Claimed ignorance, stupidity, mental breakdown, or insanity if you have to, but get the facts from them, explain your position, and remain calm.

If all else fails you'll have to begin again from scratch. I know this is a huge pain in the ass, but sadly, it's the way it might have to be. If you DO wind up having to do this, watch what you post VERY carefully.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

Gary Bloomer
The Direct Response Marketing Guy™
Wilmington, DE, USA

"
If you've posted information on your own Website, then yes, the content's yours. If you've posted content on Facebook's platform you,
in effect, GIVE Facebook control over your content: ALL of it!
Messages, posts, images, videos, the works.
"

I'm afraid you lived in AOL era. Social media today should be no different from utility such as gas station.


"
As for your stuff being your digital asset, that might be true, but
as your asset, it's your responsibility to back up your records.
="
Has anyone of the claimed 500 million FB users done that?


"
All of this stuff about it being a crime, and about it being the work of "fascists in some powerful organization" and about them having "a dirty, evil hand in this. As long as I'm alive I'm not going to let scumbags go free!" is all well and good but sadly, it makes you sound less than the seasoned professional I know you to be.
"
What make you qualified to know how scumbags works at some powerful organization?

"it makes you sound less than the seasoned professional I know you to be. ", a "seasoned professional" has to be reduced to nothing to watch his aging parents to die in despair that their son is such a fool of making bad decisions? Terrorists are evil and for those behaving same as terrorists are no different from terrorists.

Btw, this is a naked violation of American citizen's digital rights by corporate dictatorship if case B is true. I'm not entirely sure foreigners are appropriate to comment on it.

"I can understand that you may have lost some important material, and I am truly sorry for that. Maybe they are sorry for that too. If you would also take the high road, perhaps there is some middle ground where you both can stand, and resolve the issue. You must agree that over the top name-calling solves nothing.
"

That sounds sensible.

In the meantime, I stand by my position, Social Media should become utility just like gas station. The notion that one corporation owns much of the virtual world runs against consumer interests, the common good.

whenever I see the word, "should" alarm bells go off in my head.

You have said that you believe Facebook "should" act in a certain way.

Personally, I prefer practical advice to philosophical discussions. On this forum, we try to help with real life situations and give advice that will work, rather than advice that should work.

the truth isn't always pretty. But usually it is helpful. Many times I have ruffled some feathers by telling people what I honestly believe, rather than what they want to hear.

you sound frustrated by recent events, and I understand why you feel that way. But that is water under the bridge. There are a good number of intelligent and experienced marketing people who are willing to volunteer their time to try to help you. But we can best help you by offering honest advice about the world as it is, rather than simply complaining about the way things "should be".

Good luck.

Frankly, the apology isn't what matters here, it's the issue of accountability and expectation.

Like all social media platforms, Facebook is NOT a utility and never will be: it's a privately held business that offers a service, and one that's provided BY a company that, in turn, GIVES its users access.

And what is given can be taken away.

Social media platforms have terms of service for good reasons: to protect the asset that is the larger brand. In 2009, Facebook pulled in $700 million in ad revenue.

To expect Facebook to tug its forelock over this issue is naive in the extreme. Their TOS are simple: these are the rules of conduct on this platform. Break the rules and we ban you.

I sympathize with the questioner, I really do. But I won't be brow beaten in public for offering a helpful opinion.

I've forgotten more about social media than the questioner will ever know and frankly, I'm getting a little weary of questioners that will not take responsibility for their actions, or for the success of their businesses, and who then blame the very people trying to help them.

Some acceptance of evolutionary marketing is in order: it is not the strongest that survive, or the fittest, it it those most open to CHANGE.

I also hope any nonsensical bleating about what "should" happen
stands as a lesson to everyone involved in social media to do things
by the book. There are no "shoulds". There is do or do not.

And Mr. Li?

In every question you've posted on this forum I've frequently and consistently extended every courtesy to you. Were you being charged for my expertise, know this: you couldn't afford me. The very last thing
I do in my responses is varnish the truth. Lashing out at me does you no good whatsoever and in future, I respectfully request that you moderate your tone or that you find another platform from which to vent.

Respectfully,

Gary Bloomer
The Direct Response Marketing Guy™
Wilmington, DE, USA