Facebook - The Gig Is Up

This issue is at the center of the Cambridge Analytica data scandal that the social media company is facing right now. The political research firm was able to access data on more than 50 million Facebook users through a third-party personality quiz application, without the knowledge or consent of users. The quiz maker wasn't supposed to pass the information along, but Facebook at the time had no technical measures in place to prevent it. Cambridge Analytica later used this and other information to create detailed psychological profiles of Facebook users and to micro-target political ads at some of them, ... -  Excerpt from Here's how to see which apps have access to your Facebook data — and cut them off - CNBC

Dear Friends,

I have always had a disdain for Facebook and remember deleting an account several years ago, only to find myself creating a new one due to missing friends and family who have Facebook accounts. My greatest concern years ago was the lack of and protection of users privacy. So, when reports recently came out about the user data leaked to Cambridge Analytica and manipulation of unsuspecting users, I wasn't surprised; I was aware of the data collection and potential for misuse for years. But what has surprised me is how I contributed to the exploitation of friends and family members information via apps that I logged into using my Facebook account. There's no excuse for my sloppiness in this matter except to say I was too lazy to create new accounts and passwords. So, in true repentance, let me share some useful information with you, and please be assured that I plan to delete my Facebook account on April 1st.

CNBC has a report explaining how you can find out which apps have access to your data through Facebook and gives these directions to delete them:

• On desktop or in the mobile app, tap the drop-down menu on the top-right side of Facebook and select "Settings."
• Select the "Apps" option. This is on the left side of the page on desktop. On mobile, simply scroll down the settings page.
• This will show you all the apps that have access to the aforementioned data.

I found that I had granted access to 17 apps; I then went through each one, clicked on the X in the right hand corner and selected "remove."

I really don't like the dirty feeling of being used, and Mark Zuckerberg's latest apology doesn't relieve the yucky feeling that I've been had and the fact that I was instrumental in violating others privacy, as well.

Sorry, Mark, but the gig is up with this girl.

#DeleteFacebook

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Dear Father in Heaven,

It is so easy for one to fall into sin and deception. Please forgive your people for being naive, and in my case, sloppy and careless. Forgive us for settling for online friendships when it would be so much better to actually pick up a telephone, write a letter or even send an e-mail to a friend instead of clicking a "like" for their latest recipe or pet picture.

Please have mercy on our souls and help us cut the cords that tie us to the unscrupulous people and organizations of this world.

In Lord Jesus Name, I pray, amen.