Posted on by Frank - Follow me on Twitter

I want to point out something about Facebook that has been bothering me for some time now. This post is probably going to serve more as a rant than my traditional “news or tips” posts. However, I think it’s good if we change things up and what I will be discussing may be annoying you as well! So, what am I talking about?  Two words…Facebook applications.  In my opinion they are completely useless.  Why you may ask?  They take up a lot of space and it’s probably an equivalent to spam.  Just think, you log on to Facebook and there are 5 new invitations to add new Facebook applications.  Now that may be an understatement.  You may have a lot more invitations than that.  My question is, when does it end?  I definitely don’t like adding these applications to my page.  Once and a while there’s one I really like, but why are there some people that are asking you to add a new one everyday?

Before Facebook added the applications, I thought they were the best social media platform. They are still good now, but there’s more clutter within the site.  Let me tell you, the users help spread the clutter.  They are the ones constantly sending you invites.  Is it really that much fun or necessary to use these applications?  Is there any benefit to them?  I highly doubt there is which is why I wish Facebook would get rid of them.  The site was created to stay in touch with people, but now they are making it like the second coming of MySpace.  I know that’s something we all don’t want especially with MySpace going down the tubes.

I know there are a decent amount of people who like these applications and then there are those like me that are just annoyed by them.  However, I want to know what it adds to the experience. If you go on to someone’s Facebook profile and their page is covered in applications…you can’t even find their wall to write something.  Tell me that isn’t frustrating!  Facebook is a great social network, there is no denying that, but I don’t want them to slip into what MySpace is or using the same model as Twitter.  Remain a unique social network and build your already large user base off that.  If there’s one thing I could tell the people over at Facebook, it would be – don’t use other ideas from competitors.  Just be yourself…you are one of the largest social networks to begin with.

Companies always want to improve, but I think their desire to crush the competition blinds them from potential mistakes they could be making.  The applications I just don’t think need to be apart of Facebook.  You can disagree with me and that’s fine, but I’d like to know why you like the applications.  I am starting to think that the applications wouldn’t have become an annoyance to me if those that like them didn’t send me invites all the time.  I don’t ignore the invitations I get.  I do look at them all, but 99% of the time, I ignore them.  It doesn’t serve a purpose to me.

How do you feel about Facebook applications?  It may seem like I am complaining about something pointless, but they annoy me.  Are they something that you believe Facebook could do without?  Maybe you are in the same boat as me and if you are, what do you think was Facebook’s motivation to add in applications?

Further reading:

60 Minutes Interview With Mark Zuckerberg

Facebook Affecting Business Opportunities

Facebook Connect Increases Participation

Facebook Versus Twitter – Who’s In Panic Mode?

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