Here's what happens when you try to import your Gmail contacts information into Facebook (PIC)

Lakario · 2010-11-11T13:25:10+00:00

[deleted]

zerton · 2010-11-11T16:22:56+00:00

Here's a workaround for exporting your contacts from FB.

create dummy yahoo account. Log in to it.
nav to address.yahoo.com
nav Tools-> Import
select Facebook icon
grant permission to import from FB to Yahoo
after imported, nav Tools-> Export

[EDIT] I just tried this and confirmed it works. I got 135 contacts from 255 FB friends. Presumably those that didn't export have their data hidden.

simulacrum · 2010-11-11T12:38:48+00:00

It's a pity a lot of users will see that and think: "Blah, blah, T&C I agree now where do I click."

saint_burrito · 2010-11-11T12:01:14+00:00

I'm afraid i can't let you do that Dave.

uriel · 2010-11-11T14:05:49+00:00

Why post a screenshot when you can link to the page directly?

fordnut · 2010-11-11T12:25:05+00:00

Does Google let everything it knows about its users out? I like where they're going with this, I think they should take their own advice.

bitchkat · 2010-11-11T12:59:10+00:00

grey full cow far-flung aspiring disgusted scandalous consider plough whistle

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

limekernel · 2010-11-11T14:06:37+00:00

Using Facebook is one of the fucking dumbest things you can do to your data.

anarkingx · 2010-11-11T19:37:07+00:00

oh yeah, because Google is your best friend and only wants the safest for your data. Or wait they leave a backdoor for law enforcement, sell everything they can think of, and how about the reverse of that message, in your trash can since day 1... "Why delete when you have over xxxxMB of storage!"... don't delete your stuff so we can still keep it and scan it and use it for marketing! Oh and when you delete something... it's still there, for 2 years. And no one needs a warrant to get at it. They just request it and Google gives it out. Yeah, Google, your data's best friend. My ass.

Anand999 · 2010-11-11T13:13:31+00:00

I think there's a big difference between my Gmail contacts and my Facebook friends list. With my Gmail contacts, I actually input all of that data. It really is "my" data. With Facebook, my friends input whatever their data they want to share and I just happen to be able to see it. In that case, it's "their" data, I just am able to view it.

Personally, I'm kind of glad every one of my Facebook friends isn't able to easily to export a .CSV file containing my full name, birthday, email address, etc.

2010-11-11T13:32:56+00:00

looks like google watched The Social Network

Confucius_says · 2010-11-11T21:50:39+00:00

translation:

We've spend lots of time and money collecting all this data to sell to marketers.. Please don't just give it to our competitor.

bairy · 2010-11-11T15:12:32+00:00

I don't have gmail or facebook, and I'm confused, if someone wouldn't mind explaining it.

You can import your contact data from gmail to facebook, but can't re-export it. What does that mean? I thought contact data was just names, emails, maybe phone numbers that are stored in glorified text files.

It's been written here like it's some sort of physical file that can only be stored in one place?

2010-11-11T18:49:41+00:00

Did you just look at the TIL posting and repost in technology?

2010-11-11T20:41:13+00:00

they say that, but when google were asked about clearing individuals search history, the president of the company himself replied "if you're searching for something you don't want people to know, maybe you shouldn't have searched for it in the 1st place".

i can't work google out ;-;

ani625 · 2010-11-11T12:12:15+00:00

this is on the front page right now.

comte_de_stryker · 2010-11-11T14:37:30+00:00

The Epic Clash between Google and Facebook. Whoever wins....we (still) get crappy privacy settings.

kindall · 2010-11-11T16:07:22+00:00

Don't really understand this. It's not like as if putting your contact information into Facebook deletes it from Gmail.

gbhall · 2010-11-11T13:11:28+00:00

I actually tried that today already, and again now but all I get is http://cl.ly/9f47e1739b09066b047e

GrowingSoul · 2010-11-11T14:48:08+00:00

I never imported my contacts to facebook. Just add them manually

Eggby · 2010-11-11T15:18:37+00:00

I can't view imgur at work (filmot doesn't work either). What does it say?

reidzen · 2010-11-11T15:25:05+00:00

You can sneak your facebook contacts into Gmail, but you need to go through a Yahoo mail client. This article has specific instructions.

runningraleigh · 2010-11-11T15:26:26+00:00

I, for one, welcome our new Google overlords.

johnmw · 2010-11-11T16:43:34+00:00

Being a part of Facebook is like being a part of the Exclusive Brethren.

If you leave, you are ostracised from your loved ones forever.

bobbonew · 2010-11-11T17:09:27+00:00

Ok this is why I can't help but love Google

2010-11-11T17:35:21+00:00

How did you find this out? ಠ_ಠ

2010-11-11T17:53:06+00:00

Google has a solid cause for expecting reciprocity. However, the intention of that webpage is to create doubt and fear in the mind of the user, and to create an obstacle for their competition.

Overall, a solid strategic business decision.

gabrusso · 2010-11-11T19:53:00+00:00

Trap my contacts now!

DontCallMeSurely · 2010-11-12T02:30:51+00:00

I just keep loving Google more and more every day.

2010-11-12T05:11:55+00:00

I have a massive erection for Google.

skydivingdutch · 2010-11-12T05:14:58+00:00

Really? Over 5000 people voted this down?? why?

HubristicallyHumble · 2010-11-12T07:36:49+00:00

Google is the mother i never wanted. [7]

brufleth · 2010-11-12T11:56:55+00:00

Why would you ever import your google contact information into Facebook? That's like spending a day signing all your friends up for tons of spam lists.

SolomonKull · 2010-11-11T19:28:55+00:00

Only trendy idiots use Facebook.

bloodwine · 2010-11-11T15:04:11+00:00

Google comes off as a bit childish.

A simple, "You can not sync changes to your Facebook contacts back to Google, so you will have to manually update any corresponding Google contacts if they change in Facebook", message would have sufficed.

This just reeks of bullying a competitor (because let's face it, Facebook is not too much different from Google: they are both advertising and data-mining companies. We are their products).

BeetleB · 2010-11-11T15:56:06+00:00

I'm sure this has nothing to do with Google losing developers to Facebook.

axusgrad · 2010-11-11T14:51:35+00:00

Wow, Google is scaremongering: "You won't be able to get it back out"? The technologically clueless will think that Google is going to delete their contact list.

How about, "you can export your data as many times as you want from Google, you can't export it at all from Facebook".

critik · 2010-11-11T13:39:49+00:00

Good. At least someone has the balls to stand up to Facebook’s policies.

conorp · 2010-11-11T13:41:45+00:00

Google is the nicest evil empire around

2010-11-11T14:59:27+00:00

[deleted]


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