real life

Thinking of sharing a Facebook video montage? Don’t.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t mean to be a buzzkill (she says right before she’s about to be a massive buzzkill) but…

Can we just NOT with the Facebook Look Back videos?

You’ve probably seen them pop up in your Newsfeed the last couple of days. Basically, Facebook is turning ten, and to celebrate, they’ve created a handy tool that takes all the highlights from your profile since you joined, and puts them into an minute-long personalised video montage, complete with emotional music and fancy graphics.

If you want to see yours, go to https://www.facebook.com/lookback/ and it happens automatically.

Here’s the thing you guys: We control our own Facebook profiles for a reason. A video montage put together without your own creative input is practically guaranteed to be a disappointment, because Facebook doesn’t select the BEST MOMENTS FROM YOUR LIFE, it just selects some photos you’ve posted on Facebook, via a super-personal algorithm.

I joined Facebook in 2007, and since that time, I’ve been through a pretty bad break up, gained heaps of weight and posted a LOT of statuses about TV, all of which was represented in my montage. I also graduated university, ended up in my dream job and became an aunty for a second time – none of which was represented in my montage.

Your system is flawed, Mark Zuckerberg.

If I wanted to listen to a sentimental piano solo while looking at a photo of myself drinking cheap wine straight from the bottle, I’d organise that in my own time, thanks.

Now, dear reader, if you’re shaking your head and getting ready to post a comment admonishing me for being so bitter, then I’m guessing you’re one of the 500 insufferable people who posted their video publicly, along with a status like “Can’t believe it’s been 7 years! #life #solucky #lookback #LOVE #blessed #gratitude.”

Well, I’ve got news for you, friend: Nobody cares about your Facebook Lookback video. Nobody cares about celebrating the anniversary of when you joined a social networking site.

Nobody wants to look at you in the following picutures: Beach, food, food, beach, kids, party, food, funny meme, kids, plane wing, wedding, beach.

Nobody is watching, so stop clogging up my Newsfeed.

And when it comes to picking the best moments of my life to put on display… Thanks Facebook, but I’ll take it from here.

P.S – Here’s a fun game: if you want to subtly tell your friends that you don’t really give much of a stuff about their crappy montage, share this post on your Facebook wall! Then they’ll blame me for being mean and not you!

And if you’re one of the ones who hates me after reading this, post your video montage with pride and DEFY MY BITTERNESS.

Did you like your Facebook Look Back video, or was just filled with photos of you drinking? And have you bothered to watch anyone else’s?

Follow Rosie on Twitter @RosieWaterland

 

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Rogue is Mamamia’s space for fun, viral and random content, with everything from feminism to pop culture. We scour the internet so you don’t have to, and bring all the best bits back.

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Top Comments

RL 10 years ago

The first picture on mine wasn't even me!


Kate 10 years ago

Rosie, I think you are a wonderful, talented writer but I don't agree with your position here. The following shouldn't be read as rhetorical/attacky but honest questioning...

If you don't care to see a montage of what you or your supposed 'friends' consider worthy of sharing, then question how you use Facebook rather than firing down the montage concept.

If you don't care about the people whose montages are appearing in your feed then why do you choose to share your online life with them and follow theirs? If you don't care about what you have posted previously yourself, then why are you posting it in the first place or why do you allow it to remain?

Sorry, but it is such a bugbear of mine. Personally, I think leave the enormous followings to Twitter and Instagram, it's what they were designed for. If more people used facebook as a community more like their real life community, we wouldn't have all this negativity about what people choose to share. My facebook experience is great, because I genuinely have an interest in every single friend in my relatively small network of facebook friends.