Beginning of the end for facebook
http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/10/13/5285016-facebook-users-can-guy-delete-chat-history?gt1=43001Facebook users can no longer delete chat historyIt's starting to feel like anyone with anything to hide needs to find better hiding spots. For instance, people trying to keep their Facebook chats from prying eyes best find another IM program, because they can no longer erase chat history.
I discovered this while chatting the other day. Anyone who's ever IM'd knows those conversations can go all over the place, and frankly, I like to think of each conversation as a fresh start.
Nick O'Neill on AllFacebook also noticed, and linked to a forum where there are 132 posts complaining about the removal of the popular feature.
Sheesh, what's with this need to keep things? We just found out yesterday "deleted" photos stay on Facebook servers far longer than we ever would have imagined. Now, we find out conversations linger, too.
It used to be there, under your the thumbnail of your profile pic, in the chat box, a link that said, "Clear Chat History." It's been a feature since Facebook launched its chat program in April 2008. Now, our profile pics follow us on the chat as our avatars instead of our first names and that link is gone, to the great consternation of some Facebook users.
Here are some comments we found on that forum:
"Everything I have read indicates it is not an option with new FB chat and as a result I will not use it; very disappointing."
"FACEBOOKS MOTTO: If it's not broke....break it... :-)"
"Yeah, why would they leave that out...who wants to look at their old chat day after day... Put the 'clear chat history' back on...why take away something people liked...thats ridiculous"
And we can only imagine the chat history that prompted these comments:
"FB please bring back the clear chat history my friend is freaking out because there is no option. he really hates the new FB, his future depend on it."
Or, this one! "Don't they realize is certain situations it can be matter of life and serious injury if you can't clear a conversation in a moments notice. I don't understand their thinking AT ALL. Please restore this function!!"
As for me, I think I may go back to iChat, where I can dictate what I save, or Google Talk, where at least there's an option to "Off the Record," which allows users to turn off the default that records those IM conversations.