I hate Facebook......

[electra225]

.....and I'm not even a member of Facebook, never go on Facebook, have no desire to go on Facebook. My wife, however, enjoys it. She can't get out much anymore and Facebook keeps her in touch with the outside world. She got a prompt saying that she can't get on Facebook until she posts a selfie. We have not the ability, the equipment, nor the desire to post a selfie. This seems like an unreasonable request for the elderly or the disabled, or the computer inept. Does anybody know of a workaround for this situation? She can't get on Facebook until we rectify this situation somehow....

[William]

Sorry, I do not do Facebook for the reasons you just posted about. Facebook wants way too much personal information just to join up and I am not willing to give it to them. Good luck, I hope you can get it sorted.

Bill

[walyfd]

Likewise... I remember when it first came out. People posing every bowel movement or sneeze and getting sympathy or medical diagnoses from here to timbuktu...

"Don't you know about so-and-so? It's all over Facebook."

I don't care. I don't need to know... here's my half-eaten tuna sandwich. Let's do a survey on what I should do with it... I'll tell you what you can do with it but you're not gonna like my answer...

I don't do online banking either. And I'm in IT for 30 years... that saying something?

I stick with sites with people I can share mutual interest, not a vapid wasteland of useless babble.

[electra225]

EVERYBODY at work is on Facebook. Every break, every bathroom stop, lunch, whenever they can sneak to the back room they are on Facebook. Surely somebody there will know what to do. I had the wife print a screen shot of the prompt so maybe I can get her going with some help. The prompt says to do a selfie and move around so they can get different views of the face. Sounds to me like it might be some kind of a phishing scheme, maybe to steal identity? I won't let her click on the prompt, lest it be something nefarious.......

[TC Chris]

I'm not on Facebook, but FB marketplace seems to be the way to buy & sell stuff now. I and i agree with the "no online banking" comment. I don't want anybody getting into my accounts, thank you. I pay my bills by check.

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

I got the low-down on this situation. Facebook is requiring their users to post a selfie as a part of their registration/log on procedure. They are getting into facial recognition technology to guard against spammers and more nefarious activity such as revenge porn. My understanding is that every Facebook user will be required to do this eventually. I don't know how they are choosing which users to start with. The wife's friend hasn't gotten it yet. What we'll have to do is to get the equipment (new cellphone) so we can do selfies (I have NO idea how to do a selfie) and then figure out how to post the selfie so the wife can get on Facebook. Personally, I would tell them to stick it where the sun don't shine, but we have gone thru similar nonsense with this forum trying to increase security in order to stay ahead of the spammers, with varying success. The worst part about the Facebook selfie requirement is that many users report having to post a selfie every time they try to log on. The approval process may take up to 12 hours before you can log on again. Some have commented that they are spending more time trying to log on than they spend on Facebook. I understand Facebook's desire for enhanced security and trying to keep everyone safe. If the wife wants to get on Facebook, all we can do is to comply with their rules.

I'm not totally comfortable with online banking myself. The wife uses it almost exclusively. We have our bills paid automatically, and, so far, it has worked fairly well. I'm too suspicious of things I don't understand to trust such procedures. We probably don't write a dozen checks a year. You can't just go down to the "phone office" or the "power company office" and pay your bills. Their accounts receivable departments, where you pay your bill are offshore. About all you can do is pay online or send a check, hoping nobody breaks into the mail box and steals it or that they don't steal the mail truck, or that the mailman doesn't simply toss it into the trash or along the side of the road. Yeah, I know. I'm suspicious. I just believe that the people who are entrusted to do the right thing don't always do it.

[chazglenn3]

Same here. I got off of Facebook during the 2016 Presential campaign and never looked back. I'm constantly missing out on various functions because people only post them on Facebook. I get asked "where were you?" and I reply "nobody told me about it". If you want me to attend, TELL me about it! What really bums me out is that folks are selling some nice consoles on Facebook Marketplace that I can't access...

[William]

It is sad that so much emphasis is put on "social media" now days. What every happened to calling someone to talk to them, or getting together just to enjoy each others company. It also bumps me out that Facebook has pretty much destroyed Craig's List. Facebook Market place would be a good thing to have, but if I need to join Facebook to get it, then for get it.

Bill

[electra225]

If you want to know anything about computer nonsense, you ask a young person, right? Well, we have a nice young lady who works in self checkout, who is a "yellow badger" which means she is still in high school, not 18 yet. I asked her about the wife's Facebook challenge. I got the deer in the headlights look. "I have no idea, sir. I have never been on Facebook in my life. Facebook is for old people, like, maybe, 60 or more". The young, hip folks use Pinterest or Instagram. Pardon me. What do I know? I thought everybody but me was on Facebook. We have our local, trusty computer guru, Mitch, coming over tomorrow to see can he bail the wife out. This stuff is above my pay grade........

[danrclem]

I'm on Facebook only to buy or sell. I don't do a whole lot of either but anymore it is a better place than Craigslist. I do like to browse though. I don't have any friends on there, so I don't get any unwanted posts. I really don't remember having to give a lot of personal information to get on there and I'm not one to let a lot of that out. I do have one almost lifetime friend that I personal message with. I need to suggest to him that we need to do that through email.

If they ever want a selfie in order to keep the account then I'm done. I'm not planning on getting a "REAL ID" either.

[William]

If you have been a member since Facebook came out the requirements back then were minimal. Today when one wants to join up Facebook wants your life story and all kinds of nonsense or they won't let you in. I remember reading a few years ago that Facebook got hacked big time and were in big trouble because of it. After that happened they really got fussy with finding out as much about you as they can.

Bill

[electra225]

The wife had to do a video selfie. She is currently undergoing the approval process. We had Mitch come over and do it. He used my phone. I still have no idea how to do a video selfie. I believe this to be a ridiculous requirement for membership. But, it's their party, so we have to play by their rules. I don't know if this is a universal requirement, or if they just flag certain accounts. I think I'll start a gmail account and use that for Facebook Marketplace. That is what Mitch recommended. That way, I won't get a bunch of garbage emails on my regular account. The spammers post fake email accounts, so nobody can return the favor and inundate them with spam.

[hermitcrab]

My wife got banned for some infraction , and to get reinstated they wanted all kinds of personal info... I.E. her drivers license?..... of course she is no longer on it, I just play on the marketplace

[electra225]

They haven't asked my wife for personal information, other than the selfie. Giving a drivers license number, looks to me, would be a good way for identity theft to happen. I'm not sure I'd do that. The wife still hasn't been approved to get back on Facebook yet....