by Ray Langley

Created on: September 08, 2010

Why you can't block Mark Zuckerberg on Facebook

 Mark Zuckerberg, the creator and CEO of the social network Facebook, has recently drawn attention for members being unable to block him. The creation of the social network, initially restricted to Ivy League college students, was barely beat to the market by the creator of the MySpace social network, Tom Anderson. The closely timed release of both networks has hinted toward competition or rivalry, yet with nearly Seven Billion inhabitants there are plenty of members for each. The realization that many members have cross memberships has led to a MySpace “Syncing” and the addition of a Facebook “app” that allows MySpace users to update their Facebook profiles via MySpace “Syncing.”

 With concerns of harassment, or “cyber-stalking,” via Facebook, and issues with the privacy of member's information, the programmers have made it possible to “block” people. These “blocks” prevent the “blocked” person from finding you through the member search, your profile no longer appears on mutual “friends lists,” and they cannot contact you with “wall posts” or messaging, but if they have your personal email address they can contact you through that account. Also “blocking” a person will not remove them from third party applications like “Mafia Wars,” “YoVille” or “Farmville,” you have to remove them manually.

 Mark Zuckerberg, unlike Tom Anderson (MySpace), does not automatically “add” every member to his “friends” list. Granted Tom used his connection with MySpace members as a marketing tool, and the Facebook “Wall” acts as an all member Personal Address system, which frees Zuckerberg from having to wade through 500 million active users sending him “Farmville” requests. Yet a member cannot “block” or “Friend Request” Zuckerberg on the network, trying to “block” him will get you an “Error” message, and he has his privacy set to prevent “Friend requests.”

 According to Webpronews.com, a Facebook “spokesperson” said, the error message is not account specific, and triggers when a member is subject to a large number of “blocks” over a short period of time. This is typical of a viral web campaign set to prank an individual, or the result of mass harassment, and the error message means to protect the member from abuse. Similar messages will come up for the “Application” users that look to “add,” more players. This message is a result of the members complaining about strangers sending “friend requests” to join in playing an “Application,” thus being “added” and having access to any personal information only available to “friends.” These and other security issues have been at the forefront of the Facebook teams considerations as they expand the network, and the ultimate responsibility is with the user, to take steps to protect themselves. Unless, of course, Mark Zuckerberg decides to Spam your “Wall” with knock-knock jokes, because then there is not a darn thing you can do about it.

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