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Facebook Silently Removes Ability To Download Your Posts
dcollins writes "Facebook has a 'Download Info' capability that I've used regularly since 2010 to archive, backup, and search all the information that I've written and shared there (called 'wall posts'). But I've discovered that sometime in the last few months, Facebook silently removed this largest component from the Downloaded Info, locking up all of your posted information internally where it can no longer be exported or digitally searched. Will they reverse course if this is publicized and they're pressured on the matter?"
It does appear that the archive of your wall posts is now only available through the not-very-useful Activity Log.
Will they reverse course if this is publicized and they're pressured on the matter?
How often has that been successful in getting Facebook to change anything?
10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
Facebook removes a little-known, little-used feature that they no longer want to spend money supporting. The feature can be replaced on the user end with screen scraping. "News" at 11.
not having to fix the download info tool to work with something minor that broke it.
world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
Obvious benefit is that it makes it harder for their Products to move to a possible competitor's website should they want to do so.
Slashdot social media options: AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, Jabber and Mobile Text. Why no MySpace?
They don't want you to able to access your stuff if you're not on Facebook. This "encourages" you to stay on Facebook.
The harder it is for you to download your data, the harder it is for you to leave.
Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.
This. Probably one person that knows how to keep it running, and they got busy with other stuff.
Though to be fair, FB has enough money to throw at a problem that it shouldn't be a real issue.
By your logic, you couldn’t complain if I offered you a ride to the airport and then kicked you out of the car on the side of the freeway halfway there.
good point. Where is the link on slashdot to download all my comments?
Do you even lift?
These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.
Who the hell would want to repost all their old opinions & photos?
There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
I don't get the outrage over "privacy rights" when users willingly go to and use a free platform that they should know is fully sponsored by ads and data mining.
Personal responsibility.
End of story.
that they may be simply working on the site and temporarily disabled the link while they work behind the scenes? Anyone bother to contact their support to find out what was going on? No, let's all just start rumors and have the media pick it up as a 'news' story.
then they haven't updated their what's in doc:
What's in your archive?
Photos or videos you've shared on Facebook
Your Wall posts, messages and chat conversations
Your friends' names and some of their email addresses
(Note: We'll only include email addresses for friends who've allowed this in their account settings.)
What's not in your archive?
Your friends' photos and status updates
Other people's personal info
Comments you've made on other people's posts
Paying taxes to buy civilization is like paying a hooker to buy love.