Facebook already seems to be digging in its heels to try and stop a migration of its users to the new Google+ social service launched by Google last week. By blocking a neat Chrome extension that allowed Facebook users to export their friends from Facebook to Google.
The “Facebook Friend Exporter” Chrome browser extension created by Mohamed Mansour allowed Facebook users to extract emails of those people they are linked to within Facebook. The creator of the extension spotted that Facebook had begun to remove friends’ email addresses from users’ profiles in an attempt to stop any export and transfer to another social network.
Mansour explains:
“Facebook is trying so hard to not allow you to export your friends” he announced, “they started to remove emails of your friends from your profile by today July 5th 2011. It will no longer work for many people.”
The Impact on Users
This move by Facebook has significant implications for its users. Many people rely on social networks to keep in touch with friends and family, and the ability to transfer contacts between platforms can be crucial for maintaining these connections. By blocking the export of friends’ email addresses, Facebook is essentially locking users into its ecosystem, making it more difficult for them to switch to competing services like Google+.
For users who are looking to migrate to Google+, this presents a considerable hurdle. Without the ability to easily transfer their contacts, they may find it challenging to rebuild their social network on the new platform. This could deter some users from making the switch altogether, thereby reducing the potential user base for Google+.
Developer’s Response and Future Prospects
But don’t worry, Mansour hasn’t given up yet and is currently developing a new version of the Chrome Facebook Friend Exporter extension which should be available very soon. This new version aims to circumvent Facebook’s restrictions and provide users with a way to export their contacts despite the platform’s efforts to block such actions.
The ongoing battle between Facebook and developers like Mansour highlights the broader issue of data portability in the digital age. Users are increasingly demanding the ability to control their own data and move it freely between services. This is not just a matter of convenience; it’s also about user rights and the freedom to choose which platforms to use without being locked in by restrictive practices.
In response to these challenges, some industry experts are calling for more robust data portability regulations. Such regulations could ensure that users have the right to export their data from one service to another, thereby promoting competition and innovation in the tech industry. Until such measures are in place, however, users will have to rely on the ingenuity of developers like Mansour to find workarounds to these restrictions.
In conclusion, while Facebook’s efforts to block the export of friends’ email addresses may temporarily hinder users looking to switch to Google+, it is unlikely to stop the broader trend towards greater data portability and user control. As developers continue to innovate and push back against these restrictions, users can look forward to a future where they have more freedom to choose the platforms that best meet their needs.
Source: Slashgear
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