For the past 2 weeks I have been seriously considering deleting my Facebook account. The tech community is rife with doubts about how Facebook is running its business, and where it is going in the future (check any number of tech blogs to see coverage of this). I don’t want to be a part of that future.

The privacy issues are of obvious concern. Being an advanced computer user I have no difficulty protecting my own privacy by dealing with Facebook’s 50 settings and more than 170 options. Though, I cannot speak for the general user. But my motivation to leave FB is about more than privacy. It is about how Facebook is trying to insinuate itself into the infrastructure of the web through technology like Open Graph — a frightening thought. Facebook has the power to seriously hinder the internet, and they get that power from their massive number of users. I don’t want to be one of those users.

I could simply stop using FB (apathetic), or fill my profile with fake info (defeats the purpose of FB), or disable my account (also apathetic). However I think I should put my money where my mouth is and join the increasing number of users completely deleting their accounts. My decision will probably not influence any of my FB friends, and I have no delusions that a minor personality such as myself could influence FB policy. But “Deleted Users” is a growing statistic that FB cannot ignore.

I will delete my account in 1 week, giving me enough time to get everyone’s contact info into other applications and make sure I am connected to you on other networks such as Twitter. I would also like to hear any feedback you may have so please leave your comments on this post (on Facebook), or you can always email me or ask me.

If FB changes its policy and direction in the future, I may come back. In the meantime, you all know how to reach me:

Status updates: http://twitter.com/chadkoh
Blog: http://chadkohalyk.com
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandbaggerone/

I have other, more private, places of publication as well. Contact me if you would like access.

See you elsewhere on the web,

Chad K.

ADDENDUM: Looks like i will be postponing until May 31st.