In One Fell Swoop, Facebook Glitch Deep-Sixes the Web
Now we may know how powerful Facebook really is.
On Thursday, many major websites were taken down by an error that stemmed from Facebook, as Internet mainstays like MSNBC.com, CNN, Yelp and New York Magazine all sent users to redirect pages almost immediately upon loading.
Upon visiting the sites, users were redirected to an error page inside of the Facebook website, which seems to suggest that the error lies in Facebook Connect, the software platform that snakes Facebook’s reach throughout the entire backbone of the Internet. Connect is seen on many third-party-publisher websites in the form of the “Like” button — especially BuzzFeed, the viral news site which relies primarily on social media to spread throughout the Web.
This is why I hate using third party JavaScript on websites, your whole site it at their mercy. Bugs happen. Don’t Use Facebook’s code. Problem solved.
In related news, Facebook study: Growth fueled by desire for self-affirmation.
I read a similar article last summer wherein the author noted that people, especially kids, are addicted to social media sites because they need to know “who wants me?”
Why are they constantly checking their phone, won’t let it stray from arm’s reach? Simple: they get instant digital gratification that their photo was liked, their tweet was retweeted and/or their video made the most-popular list.
In other words … that they’re somebody. And having hundreds, thousands, millions of people validating you is damn hard to compete with. Best advice to parents: monitor your kids online activities. They don’t need Facebook to feel good or even “okay” about themselves. They need you for that.
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