An alternative to Facebook for ATS

I would like to propose to ATS Admin
and staff and members an alternate
to Facebook.

There is a new social networking
site being opened under open source
ideology on Sept. 15, 2010.

This site is considered to be anti-facebook
and all programming is open source to users.
It will not have the same privacy and security
concerns that facebook has.

Remember once upon a time
Microsoft had the monopoly with
Internet Explorer and then came along
open source Firefox and changed everything.

Ladies and Gentlemen I present Diaspora
as an alternate to Facebook.

www.bbc.co.uk...

An open alternative to Facebook will be launched on 15 September, the developers of the project have said.

Diaspora describes itself as a "privacy-aware, personally-controlled" social network.

The open-source project made headlines earlier this year when Facebook was forced to simplify its privacy settings, after they were criticised for being overly complex and confusing.

The project, developed by four US students, raised $200,000 (£140,000).

"We have Diaspora working, we like it, and it will be open-sourced on September 15th," the team wrote on their blog.

I would like to register my support for this idea too.

I like the idea of a "sharing" type page - but not of facebook.

Originally posted by jokei
I like the idea of a "sharing" type page - but not of facebook.

the good part about this is
it is open source, which means
programmers around the world
can view the source code to make
sure there is no hanky panky
going on behind the scenes.

A wonderful idea in my opinion

I'm going to keep my eye on this, I have a facebook account and I now seriously regret it. It takes up too much time in my life, its not private, and Its been used unfairly against me.

I too agree with this idea.

The only reason i did not connect my facebook account with ats, is because i do not use facebook anymore. I will give this website a go when it comes out.

Originally posted by Xiamara
I'm going to keep my eye on this, I have a facebook account and I now seriously regret it. It takes up too much time in my life, its not private, and Its been used unfairly against me.

I highly suspect that once this site opens
that it will get most of those users who
have problems or concerns with FB.
Once more people wake up about FB,
this site will surely grow to epic proportions
which is why I see the possibilities with it
that I do.

I just read about it this morning and had the same thought. I like that it is open source and is started by four guys that were dissatisfied with FB. That makes it a preferable choice IMO. I have avoided having anything to do with FB but this I might try out when it starts next month.

Originally posted by gandhi
I will give this website a go when it comes out.

I too have deleted my FB page as well
and I plan on resetting some roots
on Diaspora when it is launched.

a Preface to this post:

As I stated in the ATS is on Facebook thread, I think people that concerned with privacy shouldn't even be on the interwebs in the first place.

But, in all seriousness, do you truly think this will not go the same way as facebook? I mean...facebook promised up and down that your info was 100% safe. So did myspace etc etc.

And a concern I have with it being open sourced...wouldn't that mean your average joe blow hacker could get to ones information easier? I'll admit, I do not fully understand what "open source" means, which is why I am asking.

Originally posted by iamsupermanv2
But, in all seriousness, do you truly think this will not go the same way as facebook? I mean...facebook promised up and down that your info was 100% safe. So did myspace etc etc.

FB and Myspace neither one allows programmers
access to the source coding. Once you allow
access, then exploits can be resolved (most times)
before they are exploited. This also paves the way
for developers to create plug-ins (extras) for the
site allowing you to customize your experience
with as little or as much extras as you want.
It gives YOU a choice. FB & Mypsace does not
allow all that at present.

Whatever happened to 'Tinbook'?

The Facebook alternative for ATS - proposed by the admin a few months back.

reply to post by boondock-saint


Ok, I'm picking up what you're laying down, thanks for the clarification.

I still am skeptical that this will be any "more safe" though. Like I said, the others started out with pure intent, but turned "sour" if you want to say that.

I will say this though, with that new movie about facebook coming out which seems to have a few negative things in it regarding the company, timing couldn't be better for a "facebook killa"

Originally posted by Silver Star
Whatever happened to 'Tinbook'?

The Facebook alternative for ATS - proposed by the admin a few months back.

I have never heard of Tinbook
and my google search for it comes up
empty. Do you have a link for it?

Originally posted by iamsupermanv2

And a concern I have with it being open sourced...wouldn't that mean your average joe blow hacker could get to ones information easier? I'll admit, I do not fully understand what "open source" means, which is why I am asking.

Just to add to what the other poster said. Open source means that literally anyone can see the source code for the site and make suggestions on how to make it better, fix security holes or make it more efficient.

It means for example that if they decided to add some code to automatically send any data you entered to a third party then everyone would know about it instantly.

It does also mean as you said that anyone with malicious intent can also see the code, but in practice open source applications are usually much more secure and are fixed much quicker then others. There is no way of just denying a problem exists and sweeping it under the carpet because everyone can see it.

[edit on 27-8-2010 by davespanners]

Originally posted by boondock-saint
Do you have a link for it?

I do not.

But the idea was definitely vaunted.

reply to post by boondock-saint

It is in reference to this thread:

Facebook or Conspiracy book

reply to post by davespanners

dave
very nicely stated
and you are absolutely correct
in that theory
Wished I could star that post, lol

I got off of facebook because it is an awful information gatherer. Your info is sold without your permission. Big brother gets it for free.

Originally posted by LadySkadi
reply to post by boondock-saint

 

It is in reference to this thread:

Facebook or Conspiracy book

maybe I'm wrong
but I read Tinbook as being
an internal ATS function
instead of an integrated
social web app.

I don't think these 2 would
be the same thing.

[edit on 27-8-2010 by boondock-saint]

reply to post by boondock-saint
Yes, that was the discussion. Internal vs external. I don't see how it applies to this discussion either, but since the question was brought up, I thought I'd reference the thread...