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On Wednesday morning, Acton tweeted “It is time #deletefacebook” in response to the many tweets abut Facebook’s mishandling of its user data. Acton didn’t elaborate, but we do know that he is a staunch advocate for encryption and privacy.
It is time. #deletefacebook
— Brian Acton (@brianacton) March 20, 2018
He led the team of engineers that created WhatsApp after all. In 2014, Facebook bought the messaging service for $19 billion. At the time, Acton kept his job and got $3 billion from the transaction.
After parting ways with WhatsApp, he became a member of the nonprofit Signal Foundation which is in charge of the app Signal’s encryption.
Deleting the Facebook App Could Be a Start
Acton is not the only former executive to slam Facebook, but he is one of the most important ones, which could make Facebook’s situation even worse. The company now faces the prospect of a congressional hearing, stock market plunge, and multiple investigations both in the U.S. and U.K. However, the last time we checked, Acton’s Facebook profile was still there.
Yet, many users are joining the #deletefacebook movement. While some of them cannot simply delete their account, they are deleting the Facebook app from their phones.
This way, they are less tempted to check the website compulsively to see if there is something new. Most of those who deleted just the app say that they are still checking the site on a daily basis to see their News Feed. However, the Facebook addiction is no longer that strong.
Most users check the platform several times a day which makes them hooked to it and their smartphones. Yet, many admit that, in very rare occasions, they see something that they are genuinely interested in in the News Feed. So, why not #deletefacebook?
Image Source: Flickr
