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Facebook's "Evil Interfaces"

Posted by Soulskill on from the click-here-for-sunshine-and-puppies dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Tim Jones over at the EFF's Deep Links Blog just posted an interesting article on the widespread use of deceptive interface techniques on the Web. He began by polling his Twitter and Facebook audience for an appropriate term for this condition and received responses like 'Bait-and-Click' and 'Zuckerpunched.' Ultimately, he chose 'Evil Interfaces' from Greg Conti's HOPE talk on malicious interface design and follow-up interview with media-savvy puppet Weena. Tim then goes on to dissect Facebook (with pictures). So, what evil interfaces have you encountered on (or off) the Web?"

7 of 244 comments (clear)

  1. Ok, honestly by Darkness404 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Honestly, FB should just give us decent privacy controls because the majority of their users won't bother. So its a win-win. FB gets to use whatever they want and the small number of us who want better privacy controls are pleased.

    --
    Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
    1. Re:Ok, honestly by Richard_at_work · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You could always ... not use Facebook. What they don't have, they can't use.

    2. Re:Ok, honestly by dgatwood · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Ah, but privacy is also finite. Once lost, it can never be regained.

      It's not at all like MP3s because facts can't be copyrighted. It's more like giving a friend information in confidence, only to find out he sold it to a tabloid.

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

  2. As soon as you see the word "richer" by sphealey · · Score: 4, Insightful

    As soon as you see the word "richer", as in "richer user experience", hold on to your wallet. The only thing rich about a "richer user experience" is how rich it is going to make the person forcing it on you.

    sPh

  3. Re:Less deceptive now by jo_ham · · Score: 5, Insightful

    How about the deceptive photo uploader?

    I went to upload some photos and it told me that the only way to do this way to use the new shiny facebook photo uploader app, and asked me to install it. I said no (no way, in fact) and cancelled out of it, only to be directed to a page that said "you will have to use the simple uploader but it's not as good". Wait, what? Didn't you just tell me that the new app was the only way to upload photos now (yes, yes it did)?

    It's things like that - tricking people into installing facebook apps - that make me question their motives.

  4. Offline Evil Interface - Gas Pumps by rockwood · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Most gas stations have the gas grades from lowest to highest, left to right respectively. However some gas stations reverse the order from right to left, thus possibly hitting the more expensive high grade. Damn evil oil companies :)

    --
    Never try to beat a professional at his own game!
  5. I don't blame him but.... by thetoadwarrior · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Mark Zuckerberg is a cock. Like anyone he is just doing what he can to be rich but he is shitting all over a lot of people and unfortunately people seem to be fine with this because they don't realise the negative effects of FB until it hits them.

    Mark is not going to give up access to your data, it is what makes him rich, so people need to realise it's not smart to talk about your vagina or how drunk you got in such a public area. Once they realise that's dumb then maybe they'll tell Mark to quit shilling their data and that little twat will have to find another way to get rich.