Something is wrong with the algorithms of Facebook: if they are trying to become a social network, they shouldn't disable accounts when people start to use them, even mildly heavily.
Last night, and today I discovered that many of my extended family members were on Facebook. As you know, genealogy is a hobby of mine, and with more than 20,000 in my family tree, using Facebook seems a great way to keep in touch with some of them (less than a hundred), exchange latest info on the family, see pictures, etc.
We have even created a group for one of the branches that has 456 descendants of a Danish immigrant to Chile.
So indeed I started getting warning messages, when I started sending the URL, user and password to some family members to our online family tree. Indeed, it seems that promoting an external web site is against the terms of use. Huh ? you can't send a link in an email anymore ? To your own kins ?
Anyways, I got a warning email last night. I immediately replied telling the Facebook people what I was doing, and I really slowed down the number of pings to my family members. Maybe one every few minutes max.
This morning I started adding family members again. I got a 2nd warning email today, and a disabled account email 73 seconds later. Waow... As if you read your emails immediately... Worse than a cease & desist.
email 1:
From: Facebook <[email protected]>
Date: 26 avril 2008 15:41:57 HAEC
To: "Rodrigo A. Sepulveda Schulz" <[email protected]>
Subject: Warning: Your Facebook Account
Reply-To: Facebook <[email protected]>Hi,
Our systems indicate that you've been misusing certain features on the site. This email serves as a warning. Misuse of Facebook's features or violating Facebook's terms of use may result in your account being disabled . Thanks in advance for your understanding and cooperation.
If you have any questions, please contact [email protected] from your login email address.
The Facebook Team
email 2
From: Facebook <[email protected]>
Date: 26 avril 2008 15:43:10 HAEC
To: "Rodrigo A. Sepulveda Schulz" <[email protected]>
Subject: Warning: Your Facebook Account
Reply-To: Facebook <[email protected]>Hi,
Your account has been disabled for persistent misuse of the site. Please contact [email protected] for more information.
The Facebook Team
I understand Facebook belongs to themselves, and that they are free to kick you out manu militari. Somehow I get a feeling of total unfairness.
I've emailed both contact addresses I got in the emails. So do you think I'll get my account back ?
I really don't see the point of registering with a second account (and not lying about my ID, just not saying anything more than requested), and start adding my family members again...
Reminds me of when Robert Scoble got kicked out of Facebook too...
Something definitively wrong with the automatic algorithms at Facebook...
