Facebook Messaging Blocks Links

jhigh writes "With the launch of the new Facebook messaging system designed to encourage account holders to utilize Facebook for all of their messaging needs, one would think that Facebook would recognize that it cannot continue to block content that it disagrees with. However, Wired reports that Facebook messaging, like the rest of the social networking application, continues to block links to torrents and other file sharing sites, even when users are sending messages via their facebook.com email address. Say what you want about the morality of using file sharing services to share copyrighted material, if Facebook wishes to become a player in the email market, they cannot block content."

Comments

Nope.

[Gothic_Walrus]

if Facebook wishes to become a player in the email market, they cannot block content.

"Messaging" and "e-mail" are not the same thing. Problem solved?

Re:Nope.

[LordLimecat]

More to the point, if people dont really care about those features, facebook can do whatever it wants. When it goes too far, it will become clear to them pretty quickly.

That's nothing

[gmack]

Blocking sites on copyright grounds is one thing but mis-declaring sites they have a personal beef with as the source of malicious installs is quite another.

Re:Demographics

[Anonymous Coward]

I am more and more convinced that the type of people who are on Facebook, let alone those who actually will use messages, are not the types to know or be savvy enough for torrents and similar activities

I agree. It is becoming clear that FaceBook IS INDEED the new AOL.

Re:Good email systems blocks content

[Firehed]

Good email systems *allow* you to block content. Big difference.

Users have no credibility in protesting any more

[Fractal Dice]

Facebook, you shall not cross this line! No this line. Not this line. Wait ... ok, now don't cross this line.

Sorry, but I have a hard time seeing complaints about facebook as credible any more - surely by this point they've already driven away everyone who really cares about these sorts of things.

Use bit.ly

[genealotech]

If you have a link that gets blocked by Facebook, convert the link to a bit.ly link. Then it will work.

Re:Users have no credibility in protesting any mor

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

Sorry, but I have a hard time seeing complaints about facebook as credible any more - surely by this point they've already driven away everyone who really cares about these sorts of things.

That's like saying that the people bitching about the TSA's hobsian choice between nudie photos or a rub-and-tug have no credibility because the TSA's been ratcheting up the crazy for almost a decade now and if they aren't taking the train they deserve what they get. Because of the network effect, facebook is the only practical game in town for a lot of people who want that kind of service.

Re:Users have no credibility in protesting any mor

[MaskedSlacker]

The mistake you make is thinking that the GP wants to keep in touch with people like you.

Re:You must be joking

[LordLimecat]

Facebook is the internet on training wheels, for those who need the assist.

Apparently it hasnt occured to you that some people actually find it USEFUL for keeping up with a large number of contacts.

Centralization

[sulfur]

I remember when people were concerned about their privacy and complained about Gmail mining their emails. Facebook will take it to a whole new level, complete with value-added features such as censorship. People have to understand that decentralization is the only way to go; putting all your eggs in one basket (facebook) will never lead to anything good.

Re:You must be joking

[guruevi]

An address book with a decent search engine works just as well. To keep in contact send them an e-mail. No need to outsource this to some company that may or may not abuse the information that is in their proprietary e-mail system.