Facebook Movies - Don't Shoot the Messenger

Authors Note - Facebook has been taking a bit of a beating lately. Weather it's recent hoaxes that they are planning to charge users to maintain their accounts or the ongoing and endless concerns over privacy leading to the re-posting of legal statements to provide immunity I thought it would be a good time to revisit something from Facebook that was also met, by many with similar consternation - the Facebook Movie.

Originally published February 2014

Two years ago I was digging through things I'd left behind in my mother's attic - some going back 20+ years. And there it was - my component stereo system (turntable, 5 disk CD player, dual deck cassette player and the tuner). All these devices strung together in a heap of wired mayhem. I'm happy to report  that, today, they are neatly stacked with wires out of sight. Each component is functioning despite those years of brutally cold winters and blazing hot summers spent in that attic.

Unfortunately I didn't retain all of the music on formats that could bring each of these to life but, through combining my wife's collection and the booty of a few tag sales, the hundreds of CDs I did still have been have been joined by an eclectic group of LPs and cassettes.

I won't get too philosophical about the sound a record makes (versus an MP3 file) even though there's a legitimate argument to be made about 'the experience' of enjoying music this way or that way. Instead let's look at it with an economic eye - when did it become okay to just abandon owned music or devices for that matter? Speaking as a father I would argue that we don't abandon Aesop or Seuss just because its on a Kindle so why can't we make room (figuratively and otherwise) for all the content and all the stuff that goes along with the content? The answer is that can and we should.

This issue came front of mind this week with the hyperbolic response to Facebook's Movies. The application, which was/is a bi-product of the company's 10 year anniversary, has been applauded by some and picked apart by others.

(click to watch)

Lest all we users of Facebook forget that we opted in to this social experiment and can opt out...but I digress. I'd like to focus this issue of 'content' to the increasing number of  Facebook Movie critics.

Some clearly feel put out by (their) newsfeeds being flooded by their friends FB Movies while others feel the algorithmic magic controlled by the bods over at Facebook doesn't accurately reflect what or who is important in their social media lives, today. Still, others are raising security concerns and the rest are just annoyed by it for no other reason than to be annoyed. Regardless of why, those in opposition can't seem to let their disdain go.

To these people, and others itching to pile-on, I offer a simple reminder that these movies are based on existing Facebook use. These are the very same pictures that your friend posted (via cable or smart card) in 2007 from a 4 megapixel digital camera, which you liked and/or commented upon. These are the same posts and subsequent discussions that,  from a moving train, kept your attention on that evening commute home.

The only differences is the format from which the content is delivered - strung together to a bit of music.

To Facebook I say well done and thank you. I loved the speed with which you could display the most precious years of my life put to music...more ideas like this are welcomed and almost make those 'suggested' posts palatable.

I said almost!