Popular Recruiter and Blogger Gets Banned
I bet eCommerce Executive Recruiter Harry Joiner never thought the day would come when he would be banned for essentially having too many contacts. Well, unfortunately for Harry (and Facebook) that is exactly what happened when Harry recently tried to upload his 4,600 contacts from Gmail.
According to Harry,
“So I teed up my 4600 email addresses in the Facebook invitation application, and >BLAM!!< Off goes my mass invitation. Call me krazy, but again: I’m thinking “Facebook = Rolodex” and there is nothing in Facebook’s UI to disabuse me of this notion or limit my actions. Two minutes later I get the following email from Facebook …
Hi,
Your account has been disabled for persistent (my bold) misuse of the site. Please contact disabled@facebook.com for more information.
The Facebook Team”
This was a few days ago. Since then, Harry has gotten no help from the folks at Facebook and is still permanently banned. He has exchanged a couple of emails…to no avail. Now I know you have to protect against spammers, but come-on, banning a legit person just because they have too many contacts? I can understand the automated trigger, but even the follow-up’s from customer service have resulted in “your still banned.”
What’s up with that Facebook?
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27 comments ↓
This is spam behavior. If they allow it for him they have to allow it for the spammers. I’m glad they don’t allow you to do this. I have 4,200 contacts: each added one at a time.
While I will not dispute that this is spam behavior, I will still say that the instructions and guidelines given by Facebook are setting up folks with large contacts lists (who for the most part are probably “influencers” that will attract others to the site) for failure…and the potential backlash by these folks is rather significant.
The idea that Harry’s a spammer is what’s ludicrous. Blocking his behavior is one thing - permanently banning him is another.
It’s an example of hubris. Any other social networking site would love the addition of someone like Harry, a well-known professional recruiter with significant presence online.
Harry’s current network on LinkedIn is this large - what he was doing was buying the hype on Facebook and moving his presence from LinkedIn to Facebook. Now that he’s banned, he and his network of contacts won’t be in Facebook, helping them improve their site by hiring people.
And anyone who reads that note from Anthony is going to have second thoughts about the site. I know I do.
[…] Facebook Observer […]
Facebook never told me that I had to add my contacts “one at a time.” If they had, I would have. Happily.
Instead, what Facebook told me to do was invite my friends not already on their network. They even gave me a very robust email address inhaler to accomplish this task. They never mentioned a limit.
Facebook should have known that guys like us have thousands of email addresses on file.
I challenge Scoble to call into The Recruiting Animal Show on Wednesday at noon Toronto time to deny his responsibility for Harry’s problem.
http://www.recruitingbloggers.com/rbs/2007/08/scoble-scorns-f.html
www.recruitinganimalshow.com
This ex. demonstrates how Facebook has no business strategy or aptitude when it comes to leveraging its business model to an SMB/enterprise friendly and/or commerce site, open-source or not.
Facebook has huge potential–but, no vision to develop this potential beyond entertainment-level social networking.
Take a look at its C-level management (very young and inexperienced) and it’s no wonder that they are not capable of developing beyond the ‘buddy network’ du jour at this time.
BTW: their phone number is available via your telco’s ‘411′ service (in USA).
While I would agree that is one example of why Facebook is still not ready to become the business tool of choice when it comes to social networking, I disagree with your ascertation that this is has something to do with the age or relative experience of their “C” level management.
Social networks are new, so to find someone with “years of experience” is almost impossible..so no matter who it is at the helm, they will be forced to “make it up as they go along.”
The problem with Facebook and other social networks is how commercial can they get before the fickle leave and go to the next big thing that has not yet been “corporatized.” This is a major concern for any social network; keeping the balance between making money..and keeping users happy. (which is not always easy, no matter your age.)
One…I dont think Scobles commentary is relevant because he didnt seem to get the complete story. I also tend to think of him as the paris hilton of the blog world. Simply put..who cares?
Second, I think the real issue is not the technical importation of XXX number of contacts, but the complete lack of business savvy and discretion on the part of what facebook considers its customer facing staff. Thats WEAK. Its also typical.
A number of online networks have chosen to present monolithic examples on how to contact them and whether the responding entity has any intellect or power of discretion for individual situations.
The situation here is NOT the uploading of XXX number of contacts. It is the complete lack of business discretion or understanding by the tribbles who occupy customer service roles at Facebook.
In some ways, the “corporatization” of the social networks is beneficial for people like Harry, looking for business focused networks… and probably points to some of the success of LinkedIn, which has created channels, and revenue opportunities, for someone like Harry to participate in.
Harry hasn’t said anything about the “persistent misuse of the site” phrase. I’ve spoken with a lot of recrutiters who have received warnings from Facebook (even I have). I even checked with my sources inside Faceboook and they confirmed that just adding a ton of contacts isn’t something that should get someone banned from it. Either Harry hasn’t disclosed the full story, or Facebook is going to go down in the Hall of Shame for this incident.
Bob
Jobmatchbox.com
Bob, there was no persistent misuse. It was a one-shot deal, exactly as I described it. I’m a big boy: If I had done something to game Facebook’s system, then I’d take my lumps quietly. (There’s no way I’d expose my brand to a public smear-exchange with Facebook’s management by lying — surely I’d get called on it, right?)
This went down word-for-word as I described it.
had a similar experience with facebook. what is the best way to access facebook to have somebody reviewing cases like ‘Harry Joiner’s”?
believe strongly in the facebook model but agree with Eric’s comment: “It is the complete lack of business discretion or understanding by the tribbles who occupy customer service roles at Facebook.”
www.xing.com/profile/andreasw_gerdes
I got banned from facebook because of “misuse of the site”. I was sending too many messages in my inbox….I was using the messaging system to chat with two of my friends and BAM I got banned.
Oh well!
Got disabled for persistent misuse of a feature… i.e. adding friends…hopefully I will be allowed back after a warning.
I just got banned for no reason to. One moment I was poking friends I KNEW, the next I was banned.
And guess about how many people I poked? under 20.
They have yet to reply to my e-mail to there disabled@facebook.com, but I would love to see the reason for banning me, since there absolutely is not one.
Facebook abuses their responsibilities to their users. Unless they shape up and provide better service and promote further trust within their user base, their numbers will eventually level off resulting in no more growth…
personally, i dont’ feel comfortable leaving all my personal information with them.
Here’s the lowdown on how I got suspended:
1) Joined Facebook a week ago
2) Updated my profile with my previous employers. But only 5 employers could be added - Max
3) emailed the customer support/help people through facebook link, and asked why only 5
4) they explained politely that right now, only 5 is the limit.
5) I email back saying “Hi, I guess that’s why you don’t have many users who are over 30…”
6) Then they email me back saying that they’ve disabled my account - reason: my date of birth was incorrect (I had something like Dec 12 1912 as my birthday)
So you be the judge: Is this social networking site acting like big brother and misusing the information you store there?
Here’s the actual thread if you are interested:
http://yakovcherkassky.blogspot.com/2007/08/facebook-account-has-been-disabled.html
This site is stupid,i got banned for the reason below which is not true at all,i never did what they mentioned below,i was travelling when my account got banned,so wasnt even using it!! Read and laugh
===========================
After reviewing your situation, we have determined you violated our
> Terms of Use. Please note, nudity, drug use, or other obscene content
> is not allowed on the website. Additionally, we do not allow users to
> send threatening, obscene, and harassing messages. Unsolicited messages
> will also not be tolerated. We will not be able to reactivate your
> account for any reason. This decision is final.
>
> Thanks for understanding,
========================
WTF is that,can i get my email account back if i replied to them saying its not true or is it too lame
Interesting stuff. How about this one…
My company, Fast Pitch! (www.fastpitchnetworking.com) is an online business network (i.e. a Facebook for Business). Yesterday, I decided to try and leverage Facebook to grow a network within their platform by creating a profile.
Within about 10 minutes of creating the profile and ‘manually’ inviting about 15 people to connect, my profile was DISABLED. I emailed their customer support (they hide their phone number). No response.
I’m not sure what to make of it… Although I have my suspicions.
In any event, many of you are correct - Facebook is not ready for primetime in the business world. From what I’ve seen, very few if any of the applications will help you promote your business… and where does the line get drawn on this platform between business and social?
For those of you looking for a better option - something more robust than LinkedIn, more flexible than Facebook, and already very established - check us out. We’d love to have you.
Compare Networks: http://www.fastpitchnetworking.com/compare.cfm
Bill
Questions? CALL our customer support line anytime!
(941) 309-5339
So I too was banned for inviting too many friends to an Ohio State Alum group I created.
When are we looking to start the “Ditch Facebook Day”?
Have all the users STOP using facebook until they ackknowledge their ways
Hmmm actually Bill J, I’ve heard that Facebook doesn’t allow profiles to be set up for companies. They have to be for real people.
Having said that, I object to having to give sites like Facebook real information. I’m much less paranoid about the internet than most people, but I still feel its wise to be cautious and use false birthdates, etc. A number of people I know have used false names.
I’ve been badgering Facebook about a privacy *bug* I’ve found (and found a FB group about too) but keep getting non-specific canned responses. I’d expect a better response from a serious, mature company.
I’ve been similarly banned - and permanently as well - for simply knowing too many people. Absolutely everyone on my contact list I either knew personally or they gave me their email under an agreement that included that use.
Yet I’m still “harass[ing] users on the site” and that’s “a violation of Facebook’s Terms of Use”. “We will not be able to reactivate your account for any reason. This decision is final.”
I’ve read their entire Terms of Use, and come to the conclusion. Nowhere in there is any clause about a limit on the number of contacts you can have. Nowhere does it even mention where are acceptable places to meet the people you are inviting.
And in fact, the whole time Facebook is still sitting behind their ‘Everyone Can Join’ button, ironically displaying on the same page that I see when I try to log in.
I went through the entire Terms of Use to their Appeals department, explaining any and all possible violations and how they would be prevented in the future.
And still nothing.
One would think, the people with more contacts are the ones you wouldn’t want to be blocking but then again, maybe Facebook wants to decrease their market share…
Just thought all of you should know about this before it happens to you.
[[FACEBOOK UNION]]
I’ve heard this idea before. Who thinks there should be some sort of Facebook Union?
Essentially, it’s just like any other type of union. If one of us gets banned unfairly, we all stop using the site. They have to listen to the masses…
Many of us here are highly influential individuals, and we should all agree on the following:
1) Convicted individuals need a way to plead for their innocence and individuals who are not in violation of any rules should have restored accounts.
2) All rules should be stated clearly on the site, and non-damaging first-time violations of rules that are not made clear should be dealt with through a warning.
I’m going to be creating a Gmail account and all who are interested in becoming part of the Facebook Union can email me at facebookunion@gmail.com
All will be valued here.
I have had my account disabled how do i get it back
All he has to do is go back using a different e-mail address.
Well, this is terrible. Facebook needs to be stopped. There is an equivalent service run by google which somehow seems fairer. If you still need to use Facebook just create a new account. It’s the easiest way, you won’t be breaching terms and conditions because you only have one account working.
The Google equivalent is called Orkut. Maybe it pays to join several community systems rather than one as a back up.
Let it be a lesson for all!
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