9/7/07
Compare People Facebook App Pulls a Bait and Switch?
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If you’ve been utilizing Facebook a lot, you’ve probably noticed a lot of your friends using the compare people application. What is it? Well, it’s an app created by Ivko Maksimovic that allows you to compare two friends on random questions… everything from “who is more tech-savvy” to “who would you rather sleep with”. And tons of my friends have been using it.
The whole app seemed innocent enough. You can opt out of being compared if you’re the sensitive type who doesn’t want to know that you’ve been chosen zero times as “sexier” in a comparison. And the app is anonymous for the voter, unless you choose for it not to be (and you only have the choice to be non anonymous on the tamer questions). From the app description page:
Your friends cannot find out how you compared them except when it’s an innocuous compliment. For example, if someone loses a comparison, they will not know that they lost. If you rate compare someone on a dating question, they won’t know how you chose. There is no way for someone to look at the rank lists and see who said what about them.
In addition to rating your friends, the app keeps a running tally of where you rank in your friends grouping, your network and the “hall of fame” which appears to be all of Facebook. But it would seem that Ivko has chosen to monetize the compare people app sometime in the last few days, when a message appeared at the top of my ranking screen stating: “You qualify: See how you were compared (premium)”. I’m like, what the hell is that?
Well, when you click on the link, you’re told that for ten bucks a year, you can see:
Who should you date?
We crunched the numbers, checked the stars, and came up with your matchesWho are your true friends?
See who has the highest opinion of youWho are your best references?
See who has the highest professional and academic opinion of youYour wins and losses
A question by question recounting of exactly who you won and lost to
Um, excuse me? What the fuck happened to the promises of anonymity? Now you’re going to sell my anonymous choices to my friends? I for one don’t like being told one thing and having someone change the rules halfway through. Worse is that you can’t see a terms of service once you’ve already opted into the application.
So, my plan is to uninstall this thing and opt out of being compared at all. But guess what? Upon clicking the “I don’t want to be compared” button, I’m presented with the following information:
Your friends won’t be able to compare you and you will not show up in their rank lists.
Furthermore, you can’t compare others or see their rankings.
Note: If you choose this, you cannot switch back for at least 3 days.
This may take up to six hours to take effect.
This feature is in beta testing - expect problems.
I repeat… what the fuck? My option of privacy is in beta testing? Um, no. There is no way in hell Facebook should be allowing an application to run that utilizes my data that does not allow me to opt out without warning me that I should “expect problems”. I opted out, seemingly without any issues, and then removed the application. Lord knows though if removing the application completely erases my decision to opt out or not (and if it does, it’s complete bullshit).
If you’re using the compare people app because it was cool and fun, you may want to think again. I’d suggest opting out of being compared, deleting the application and reporting it to Facebook (there is a little link to report an app on the right column on the application page) for advertising anonymity and then selling your “not really anonymous” answers to your friends.
Edited to add: follow up post is here.
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Rae Hoffman
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This is one reason why I’m hesitant to add any of these external apps (I don’t consider LOLcats to be a threat to my privacy, aside from letting my friends see how dumb I am). My profile looks quite a lot like it did in 2005. And I am one of those people who’d be hurt if I thought I was losing lots of sexiness battles :P
That’s nuts…I generally avoid the apps on facebook, (I have a couple, carefully selected ones, but not many…) but that is ridiculous.
thanks
Ugh, I was not happy to read about this.
Thanks for the heads up. I won’t be using the app anymore. Makes me worry a bit about other apps, too.
Why oh why does everything have to get ruined? Not that I’m a huge fan of these apps, but they do make facebook a tad bit interesting. Ah well…all good things get spammed or monetized eventually. :)
Bravo. When I saw that, I had a similar reaction but your point about the sudden non-anon/privacy was something I blew right past.
Without a doubt this is an invasion of privacy. That type of bait and switch is completely unacceptable.
Now I don’t blame the creator for trying to monetize his app, however, this premium service should have been clearly laid out from day one.
I understand that people want money (this is what keeps us alive and functioning, at the end of the day), however I can’t agree with such practices. They should have announced the intention of offering this “premium” service, and give possibility to everybody to delete their previous data if so they wished.
I’ve had a compare request sitting in my notifications for a few weeks - I’m glad I didn’t try it, now. Many thanks for the info.
You are overreacting. Your information is private. When you uninstall an app it is removed.
Reporting them is not valid, they did nothing worthy of reporting.
Rodney Rumford
http://www.facereviews.com
Thanks for the heads up Rae. The apps are fun and get people interacting but there shouldn’t be a false claim of anonymity. My privacy is worth more than $10!
Well Rodney, I hate to tell you, but you’re dead wrong… when you remove the app, your info is still included in the ratings people can buy… so, I guess you’ll have to wait for my next post on the subject tonight to see the very specific and blatant examples. :)
Thanks for the heads up. I only recently joined Facebook to see what all the fuss was about. Now I’ll be doubly careful.
I’m looking forward to the follow-up post, Rae. We’re all very trusting of these sites, and it astonishes me the level of information people include on their profiles. I am guilty of posting info to Facebook that might be best left offline, but at least my home address isn’t there for all to see.
I’m sometimes surprised people don’t just stick their Social Security and passport numbers in there, given the amount they’re willing to part with for the sake of a more complete profile.
Am I the only one who thinks that a “Compare people” feature is ethically disgusting anyway? As the saying goes:
Great minds talk about ideas
Average minds talk about events
Small minds talk about people
Looks like Facebook users need to mature a bit.
Well said. Another app I hate is the “questions” app that asks your friends a random question on your behalf without your knowledge.
If facebook doesn’t start policing its apps a bit more, people will stop trusting them.
Oh Man. I was ranked number 1 for like 50 things . . .
I actually don’t care if people know how I voted to be honest. I have nothing to hide and no opinion I won’t stand behind.
Admittedly what they pulled was a dirty trick . . . but I am number one for like 50 things . . .including sexiest . . . Please Rae . . .don’t make me do it ;)
Rae,
If what you say is true, then that app is in violation of facebooks terms of service and they should be reported.
According to the facebook developers TOC they can’t store any user data for more than 24 hours.
Good review here of the problem.
Got my digg.
Thanks!
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[...] Please read these articles by Rae Hoffman discussing the blatant misuse of personal information: Compare People Facebook App Pulls a Bait and Switch? More on the Compare People Premium [...]
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[...] The apps, however, have access to our information and what are the chances of preserving privacy? Rae Hoffman, dissects an application called Compare People to illustrate that it’s not so innocent after all… Now you’re going to sell my anonymous choices to my friends? I for one don’t like being told one… [...]
jeez just because your losing, dont complain cause the app doesnt work for you
Thanks for that insight Bob, but I don’t think I ever once said the app “didn’t work”…. lmao
[...] infamous bm_tnoo7@hotmail.com isn’t actually a hacker after all! However the ‘Compare People’ application is making your profile and that of every single member of your friends group available to buy for [...]
I am officially pissed off.
I cant believe some low life would be willing to sell it off. I have this application, kind of addiciting and fun. But you do it cuz you know no one really will get hurt if they dont know who sent it. and you add the application and its like SEE WHERE YOU FIT IN. COMPARE YOUR FRIENDS TO SEE WHERE YOU RANK.
maybe we deserve to have our anonymous results sold to our friends… we are low enough to compare them…what friend compares people?
has our generation completely disowned ethics and morals?
I mean.. i like going on and seeing how ppl voted for, even if it is a horrible one..cuz in all honesty its kind of funny.
and its kind of funny to vote on people to. But i think im going to keep the application, and just not vote..just keep getting votes.
but heyy.. if we are willing to compare our friends..maybe they have a right to know?
And its not like what we are comparing them on is all that bad.. except if they find out who they loose to then maybe.
but ehh…its how society is now…. win..beat down..and rise above by standing on a pile of vacant coats in the middle of your very own living room.
kinda sad.
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[...] Compare People is Evil As seen on my Facebook “Compare People” app, you can see my hall of fame ranking here. Looks simple fun, with voters made anonymous (unless they opt to be disclosed). Thing is, for $10, you get to actually see who’s “most compatible” with you, as the system actually reveals those who voted on you. Full story over at Sugarrae… [...]
[...] 36% of all Facebook users have it installed). Some don’t even work when they’re released. Some break their promises. And all, regardless of how you view them, have the potential to annoy the *living shit* out of [...]
Unfortunately many web 2.0 websites not just Facebook, there are also Yourminis, Google Gadgets, WidgetBox and more approve any application without a minimal amount of human review. I understand they are trying to encourage developers to submit more apps by simplifying the apps submission process but comparing to the risk of privacy violation or hacking this is unjustified.
