frosas.net

I've just unsubscribed from Facebook. It had a lot of hype in the last months but the only thing it has other social networks doesn't is it permits other people to create applications on it. Yes, this is an improvement compared to previous popular networks like MySpace, which don't permit this, but Facebook still controls its users profiles and contacts, so they decide what you can and what you can't do with this (your) information.

It works like malls do: you can go shopping, drink something with your friends or go cinema with your partner, it looks like being in a public place. But don't try to go against mall own interests if you don't want to be "invited to leave" by a guard.

Luckily it seems some people are working on the next step. For example, Six Apart is working on a social network based on open standards like OpenID, hCard, XFN and FOAF. There are others interesting initiatives, but it doesn't matter who "wins" this race if the final result is an open solution.