Facebook has become a center for cultural and social interaction on the web. I love the idea behind Facebook, and agree with many of their decisions from a business standpoint. There are a few things I absolutely loathe that will ultimately drive me away.

Applications

I have to say that I have no grumbles against the idea they had with the applications API. It’s great that they’re willing to allow their user base to create miniature apps to run on their platform. Some applications have much utility, while others are meant to be time wasters. But I swear to God, if I get another invite to play that damn zombie game, I’m gonna flip. I’ve often considered building an app to block apps not created directly the Facebook team. I’m sick of it junking up user profiles to the point where I can’t find anything. I’m all about simplicity and minimalism when it comes to that kinda thing.

“Friends”

I don’t understand how people magically become your friends online, even though you don’t even know or talk to them in real life. It just boggles my mind when people 4 or 5 years younger than me whom I’ve never had a friendship with try to add me as their friend. Screw that, and screw you. And if you try to add me too many times, I’m not the least bit shy to block you. Take a hint the first time, please.

Addiction/Time Sinkhole

If Facebook is good for one thing, it’s wasting time. Cyberstalking is good for wasting time when you could otherwise be doing more important or valuable things. I think people take it too far and become addicted to knowing what everyone else is doing, what images they’re posting, or who they’ve talked to. Many Facebook faithful even go as far as to assume that I saw it because it happened there. Chances are I did, but took it with a grain of salt because it’s on Facebook. The conqueror of skepticism is proof and fact – virtual proof/fact don’t cut it for me.

Events

This one is a big Catch 22 for me. House parties, going away parties, keggers, etc. all have a home here. What doesn’t fit, you say? Weddings, graduations, and other formal events. If it’s worth my time and resourcse to go, it’s worth your time and resources to send me a real invitation. If you just want my money, say so and I’ll send a card. Otherwise, have some class and send your invites via snail mail.

The Social Aspect, or “The Saving Grace”

See Addiction. If you go for a week without checking your Facebook account, you could miss a lot. Or you could miss nothing, as is my case 99% of the time. This may shock some of my reader constituency, but I’m not completely insensitive to other people. I understand that some don’t have time to “be social” so they derive their contact from what Facebook can provide to them when it’s convenient for them. That’s fine, do what you gotta do. In fact, sometimes it’s more appropriate to leave someone a wall message than to actually talk to them. When “it’s not what you know, but who you know” becomes increasingly important, having an online social network of friends can be crucial.

At this point, I’m not really sure if/why I should bother with Facebook anymore. It feels like a fad that’s dying out for me since I’m no longer in college. Is this an omen for other Web 2.0-style sites in the coming days? Will the constituency of users wane because of boredom or lack of utility on the site? My prediction: yes. When the time comes that you’re only checking Facebook for lack of better things to do, you’ll understand my arguments and rationale. As they say, time is money.