Web 2.0 Suicide Machine
Encyclopedia
The Web 2.0 Suicide Machine is a service that helps users tired of Facebook
, MySpace
, LinkedIn
and Twitter
, to "commit suicide in social networks," by automatically "removing their private content and friend relationships," (but without deleting or deactivating their accounts).
To start the suicide process, the user has to provide his login credential for the social network
from which he wants to be deleted, and then "watch your life passing by and reflect upon your real & virtual friends," while private content and friend relationships are removed. In the end the user is included in a memorial album of all the suicides, with his profile picture, his name and his "last words."
The service is based in Rotterdam
. On January 2010, Facebook managed to block the service for a short time and sent a Cease and desist
letter from its lawyers, but the service is still up and running. Its creators "consider this project as a piece of socio-political net art."
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
, MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a business-related social networking site. Founded in December 2002 and launched in May 2003, it is mainly used for professional networking. , LinkedIn reports more than 120 million registered users in more than 200 countries and territories. The site is available in English, French,...
and Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
, to "commit suicide in social networks," by automatically "removing their private content and friend relationships," (but without deleting or deactivating their accounts).
To start the suicide process, the user has to provide his login credential for the social network
Social network
A social network is a social structure made up of individuals called "nodes", which are tied by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, kinship, common interest, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships, or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige.Social...
from which he wants to be deleted, and then "watch your life passing by and reflect upon your real & virtual friends," while private content and friend relationships are removed. In the end the user is included in a memorial album of all the suicides, with his profile picture, his name and his "last words."
The service is based in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. On January 2010, Facebook managed to block the service for a short time and sent a Cease and desist
Cease and desist
A cease and desist is an order or request to halt an activity and not to take it up again later or else face legal action. The recipient of the cease-and-desist may be an individual or an organization....
letter from its lawyers, but the service is still up and running. Its creators "consider this project as a piece of socio-political net art."