[Plugin: Simple Facebook Connect] BEWARE: Charges apply! MOBILE or CREDIT CARD details required to u

No charges apply.

They don’t charge the credit card, they put a “hold” on that amount. And it’s only a buck.

The SMS verification worked for me one time. Some people have reported problems though.

And anyway, big deal. If you want to connect to their stuff, they just want to be sure that you’re a real person and not some kind of spammer or something.

Also, I know people at Facebook personally. They don’t “sell your mobile contact info to marketing firms”.

Bottom line: If you don’t trust Facebook, then you shouldn’t be trying to connect your site to them in the first place.

Thanks for the replies craigtommola and Otto.

No charges apply.

Yes, they do. Reread my post and follow the relevant link.

And anyway, big deal. If you want to connect to their stuff, they just want to be sure that you’re a real person and not some kind of spammer or something.

Fair enough. I could have sworn I read a few instances where non-developers are also being targeted. Can you shine any light on this either way?

Also, I know people at Facebook personally. They don’t “sell your mobile contact info to marketing firms”.

I should have clarified that that’s speculation on my part.

Bottom line: If you don’t trust Facebook, then you shouldn’t be trying to connect your site to them in the first place.

I guess that’s the operative rational; I don’t so I won’t. Facebook represents one of the biggest one erosions in net privacy and neutrality. Surely you can conjure the amount of intelligence marketers and government can derive from the cumulative Facebook accounts. For me, it’s a matter principle but each to their own.

Yes, they do. Reread my post and follow the relevant link.

I did read your link. You’re wrong, they’re talking about a “hold”. A hold is not a charge. A hold is what they do before a charge actually happens.

Fair enough. I could have sworn I read a few instances where non-developers are also being targeted. Can you shine any light on this either way?

Certain types of actions on Facebook (making Pages, make applications, etc) require your account to be verified as belonging to a real person. This is not developer specific, it just happens if you try to do more than build your own personal profile.

I guess that’s the operative rational; I don’t so I won’t. Facebook represents one of the biggest one erosions in net privacy and neutrality. Surely you can conjure the amount of intelligence marketers and government can derive from the cumulative Facebook accounts. For me, it’s a matter principle but each to their own.

Fair enough, but if you don’t trust Facebook, then why try to hook your website to their system in the first place? Makes no sense to me.

And anyway, they do have very strong privacy settings on Facebook. Use them. Or, if you don’t trust them so much, then delete your account completely. Problem solved.

A hold is not a charge.

I was addressing craigtommola. I probably confused you by not blockquoting his reply. Regardless, I was still incorrect. Thanks for the clarification. What’s the rational behind the hold? Is this action enough for verification? As an aside, it doesn’t remedy my grievance. I don’t want any social network interacting with finances hold or no hold. Are these measures commonplace for working with APIs in general?

it just happens if you try to do more than build your own personal profile.

Understood.

why try to hook your website to their system in the first place?

I don’t know what the said hooking entails. It was my intention to review Facebooks interaction with my site upon trialling the plugin and make a go or no go decision. Judging by your question I’d have probably opted for no go.

they do have very strong privacy settings on Facebook

That’s not necessarily the kind of privacy I’m referring to; it’s not even my privacy I’m necessarily concerned with seeing as how I’m registering an organization. It’s a principled concern. Let’s just say that if I were in the upper echelons of government responsible for the managing the populace, Facebook would be one of the more obvious tools for psychologically profiling an array of demographics and thereafter anticipating group or individual behavioral patterns. I find this disingenuous especially when the likely outcome of the findings will be used for steering or manipulating a populace. More here: https://www.albumoftheday.com/facebook/

Or, if you don’t trust them so much, then delete your account completely. Problem solved.

It’s just not that black and white buddy. Desire and necessity are two completely different things.

I was addressing craigtommola. I probably confused you by not blockquoting his reply. Regardless, I was still incorrect. Thanks for the clarification. What’s the rational behind the hold? Is this action enough for verification? As an aside, it doesn’t remedy my grievance. I don’t want any social network interacting with finances hold or no hold. Are these measures commonplace for working with APIs in general?

The reason for the hold is basically a check to see if the card info is accurate. If you have a valid card in your name, then presumably you’re a real person. It could be worked around, certainly, but not easily. Google does the same trick for some forms of identity verification.

It’s not necessarily commonplace, no, but FB is all about having real people with accounts and being tied to identity. They dislike the idea of people using multiple accounts and things of that nature.

Cheers for the insight Otto!