Faceobok is one of those things in life that you either love so much you want to have its babies, or you hate so bad that you want to commit a mercy killing to save humanity from it. Everyone knows or has heard of someone who “left Facebook”. Usually when that is said, it elicits looks of bewilderment as though it had been suggested that the person gave up his citizenship and moved away.

How will he ever see his family? Will he be able to find his way in the big world out there? Has anyone checked his crawlspace?

Every time Facebook releases an update to its mobile apps or a revamp/tweak to its online user experience, the howls go up. “Change it back! I can’t find anything! I don’t want to see this!”

I've been forced to use the new @facebook android app for months. Now it's unleashed on everyone. It's seriously sucks donkey balls. Retards

— Dave Forster (@davey_lad) April 24, 2014

Reason 1,000,0001 Facebook sucks: Taking fan pages out of News Feeds and making you pay to get same traffic you used to.

— LostLettermen.com (@LostLettermen) April 21, 2014

For some people, it’s simply the idea of Facebook, in general. The ethos of sharing and seeing everyone else’s innards on display for all to see.

Facebook: *Scrolling down your newsfeed thinking:* "don't care'' "Whore" "Your life sucks" "Song lyrics" "Inside joke?" "Needs a therapist"

— Sarcasm (@Heissarcastic) April 24, 2014

Quitting facebook has made it very difficult to stay in touch with all my fake friends.

— Ted (@OfficialTedSays) April 23, 2014

If you're ever in the mood to hate yourself just look at your old Facebook posts.

— Jacob Warren (@JacobWarren26) April 24, 2014

But there is also the realization that Facebook is free for a reason. Oh, sure, everyone says that Facebook is “free because it shows you ads.” Astute observation there, marketing genius. But more and more people are starting to realize that Facbook is free because you, the Facebook user, are not the customer.

You are the product.

Free Facebook is not the bait for you, the fish. Facebook is the hook, and you are the worm. Your information, including details and habit notes that you may never imagine, are available for anyone who bids.

This is not a new notion. It has been covered again, and again.

It has long been known that Facebook collects info, some of which we give voluntarily — name, email address, telephone number, address, gender and schools attended, for example.

But Facebook also tracks things that you may not suspect — your political affiliation, religion, family relationships, and even when you choose to not accept a friend request.

This kind of knowledge could be used by discerning advertisers.

And for the Facebook detractors, it all adds up to one thing: One more reason to hate Facebook.

your "I hate Facebook" Facebook status update is really sticking it to the man, dude

— John Kleckner (@Hejibits) April 22, 2014

Image via YouTube