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Zuckerberg Quits Google+ Over Privacy Concerns

ianpm writes "Mark Zuckerberg has decided to leave Google's new social network because he 'doesn't want to be tracked.' In other news, the Internet's irony meter has just exploded. Robert Scoble is now the most followed person on Google+ according to The Inquirer." Most of the article is about the rankings of various G+ users with big followings. I currently have a measly 400 or so. Guess I'll never be as cool as MySpace's Tom.

7 of 284 comments (clear)

  1. In other news... by Compaqt · · Score: 5, Funny

    Steve Ballmer says he doesn't want to a buy an iPhone over proprietary software concerns.

    Timothy Geithner is worried that we're spending too much on the FDIC program.

    And Fox News is banning MSNBC from their studios over 'bias'.

    --
    I'm not a lawyer, but I play one on the Internet. Blog
  2. Didn't quit by mother_reincarnated · · Score: 5, Informative

    The article (I know, I must leave now) does NOT say he quit G+. It says that he along with the top Mgmt at Google all seem to have opted for tighter privacy controls overnight. The number of friends and followers can no longer be *tracked*.

  3. Re:Interesting fact by calmofthestorm · · Score: 5, Informative

    Addressing your bullets:

    1) Facebook also does this with the facebook ads network (on about 1/3 sites on the net). You can prevent this by disabling "instant personalization"
    2) This is an option during signup unchecked by default (at least when I signed up). You opt in, a word Facebook would do well to learn.
    3) Facebook makes profiles searchable on search engines by default as well. You can disable this.

    So...it has the same privacy violations as facebook...not seeing your point.

    --
    93rd rule of Slashdot: No matter how obvious my sarcasm is, my comment will be taken seriously by someone.
  4. Re:Misleading headline? by rust627 · · Score: 5, Funny

    he probably thought that accounts cant be cancelled , like facebook..............

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    da da da dum indeed.
  5. Re:Interesting fact by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yeah, except FB routinely changes the way things are made private/public, and defaults those settings to 'Wide Open'. They then notify you up to 48 hours later, giving the search crawlers plenty of time to index your stuff.

    I rather prefer Google's method. It seems more honest.

    Also, anyone who didn't foresee Zuck doing this wasn't paying attention.

    1. Sign up for competing service.
    2. Give it an "honest try"
    3. Quit over perceived "problems" that your site doesn't have, or resolved previously.
    4. Profit!

  6. Re:Interesting fact by Serious+Callers+Only · · Score: 5, Insightful

    At least with Facebook I have control over what my information is made public.

    Do you really believe this? You think the company which came up with Beacon and introduced it as on by default has any interest in giving you control over your information? Much as I don't hate Zuckerberg, he and facebook are playing you for a sucker.

    You CAN change what information is public and what you want to give out.

    If you trust Facebook to live up to their promises in this regard (which are pretty flimsy to start with) I have a bridge to sell you. I leave you with a verified quote from Zuckerberg about his users:

    "They trust me — dumb fucks,"

  7. Re:Interesting fact by tripleevenfall · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This was obviously a stunt from the get-go. Zuckerberg joined only with the intention of quitting in mock disgust later, in a stunt to protect his media empire, which is all based around collecting and selling personal information.