Mark Zuckerberg’s classy visit with Obama notwithstanding, Facebook just took one step further into stalker land.
Meet the Facebook Breakup Notifier. It is exactly what you think it is: an application that allows you to track the relationship statuses of people you’re into, who are currently “in a relationship.” When they’re back on the market, you’re notified immediately.
Though the app’s creator, Dan Loewenherz, claims this is mostly for fun, the Breakup Notifier is a fully functional application.
Here’s Loewenherz on his eureka moment:
A few days ago, my fiancée and her mom were talking about setting up a nice guy with my fiancée’s sister. Unfortunately, said guy is in a relationship. My mother-in-law to be suggested it would be nice to know when the relationship was over (jokingly). I blurted out that I could make something that could do that in a couple of hours.
Seriously, this is mostly a joke. But it was too funny to pass up.
About Lu Fong
There aren’t enough words in the English language to describe how much this application scares me. As an adult Facebook user and as a parent who worries about online safety for kids everywhere.
Thank you for alerting us to this new danger!
I think that this app is brilliant. If you don’t want people to know when you are and aren’t in a relationship, don’t post it on the internet.
The whole Facebook interaction is getting out of hand. I can understand the all-too-human need to find past friends and keep family up-to-date with goings on in a convenient forum, but really…to think of it as a way to `announce’ your are back `in the market ?’ Ick.
And way, way creepy. Whatever happened to the old- fashioned graces associated with real, face-to-face conversation with someone you might like to know, but don’t yet ? It takes more honesty, courage and finesse to stand in front of someone and talk than it takes to sculpt a Face book image to your liking and the perceived desirability to others. Get real, people. Forget about Facebook . It’s crap.
I don’t know what the fuss is about. If I change my relationship status to “single”, a notice goes out on Facebook to all of my friends (those who haven’t turned off that particular notification, anyway) that says “Liam is now single.”
All this app does is the same notice, essentially.
So to me, the complaints about this app are essentially the same as walking to the town square, shouting at the top of your lungs “I’m Single Now!” and then getting upset because someone who heard you passes on the message to someone who didn’t hear it… or reminds someone who DID hear it.
If you don’t want everyone to know your relationship status, don’t post it on Facebook. If you post it, don’t be upset because people then know your relationship status.
I think I’m missing something. Why is this creepy?
Anyway, I need a similar Facebook thingy that would notify me when someone Likes the Dave Matthews Band. It’ll be great if it unfriends them automatically too.
this is so creepy. this plus the gps cloak app that I read about last week is starting to make facebook the next craigslist for creepers!