Connect with dead on Facebook
2009-10-26 15:15
Cape Town - Facebook has upset a great number of users with a new "reconnect" feature by recommending they get in touch with dead friends.
The popular social network introduced a number of new features over the weekend, including the now controversial "reconnect" feature which aims to reunite friends that have not communicated for a while.
While the original aim may have been noble and well intended, Facebook unfortunately fell victim to the "insensitivity of the algorithm", as Mashable blogger Peter Cashmore comments.
Within hours Twitter was abuzz with tweets from distressed Facebookers:
"Facebook just told me to reconnect with a friend of mine who died a couple years ago. Not cool, Facebook," tweets JLynnJohnston.
"One of my friends on Facebook has passed. FB keeps asking me to reconnect with her... FB will never be smart enough...," writes twittleotwitt.
"Facebook just suggested that I "reconnect" with someone who passed away 2 years ago. That's so messed up," an upset Ubabz adds.
Facebook also suggested users reconnect with ex-lovers ("Facebook told me to reconnect with my ex-girlfriend. I don't think that's a good idea," says bruthamyles), current partners and even with themselves:
"Facebook keeps telling me to reconnect with myself. WTF?! " PenultimateWord tweets.
More than 950 000 users have reacted against the changes by joining a Facebook group called "Change Facebook Back To Normal".
Facebooker Julee Athey summarised the sentiments of many frustrated users with her post: "It was just fine how it was! If it aint broke, don't fix it!!!!! Doesn't seem like anyone cares for it this way!!!"
Melissa Winand, on the other hand, kept her opinion short and sweet: "new facebook sucks!!!"
At least not all was bad, as some Facebookers also managed to find some humour in Facebook's unfortunate glitch, as Jo_MacD shared on Twitter:
"Last night Facebook told me to reconnect with my husband, who was sitting opposite me. With the other laptop. They had a point..."