As I'm sure you've heard, or as I'm sure Facebook has heard you hear, Facebook is set to release an update to their mobile app that some users are going batshit crazy about – and not the good kind of batshit crazy.
This update will allow Facebook to identify the music and shows you're listening to, and include them in your status updates, similar to the functionality of Shazam. Except, instead of telling the app when to listen, Facebook is always listening. *Insert ghostly 'ooooo' sound*
Why you're probably overreacting
Without much context, this feature sounds pretty frightening, but if you're one of the many who is threatening to delete your Facebook account and hunt down Zuckerberg, you may want to put your torch away. It's really not that bad.
You have options
First off, this feature (at least for now) is completely optional. If you don't want Facebook to include your music and shows within your updates, don't turn it on. Facebook may decide to remove that option in the future, but for now, it's your choice.
It doesn't care about your conversations
Second, like Shazam, this technology doesn't care about your boring dinner conversations about your next door neighbor's humping dog. It analyzes ambient sound to match an 'audio fingerprint'. The 'recorded' sound is quickly compared to an online database of music and shows for a potential match, then thrown away forever. Facebook claims that no audio is ever stored on your device, or on their servers.
Facebook is the least of your worries
If you're still not convinced that there's nothing to worry about, you should probably set your priorities straight. In fact, you should probably burn all your devices, lock yourself in a bunker, and quickly disappear from society.
Unfortunately, everything is listening. Our phones, the apps installed on them, search engines, browsers, the government. Everything you do, every action you take, is being analyzed in one way or another. Google knows every website you visit, and every destination you arrive at. Hell, their Moto X has a feature that allows you to activate voice control without even touching the device. How is that any different from what Facebook is doing?
But even still, nothing compares to what we've been made aware of recently, thanks to Edward Snowden. Our own government is tracking everything we do without our knowledge. That is what you should be worried about, not Facebook wanting to tag your music – unless you listen to Justin Bieber, then you should be worried.
Still want to leave? Bye!
At the end of the day, the decision is yours to make. If deleting your Facebook account will somehow make you feel more secure in 'Big Brother' America, so be it. We live in very different times where, unfortunately, we may never be truly 'free'.
Just like you, I don't like my freedom being stripped away, but boycotting Facebook is a royal waste of time.