For something that launched at its developer conference, Facebook's recent announcements about an anonymous login feature for third-party apps didn't necessarily win over the bulk of its audience.
At f8 2014, Facebook said the login would allow users to demo apps before they provide their personal data. The new login is also designed to provide granular control over what data types they give an app and what information about their session will get shared on its service.
Of course, even those who work professionally in software development are often Facbeook users, and there were certainly a number of them who were cheering the announcement almost as loudly as marketers and consumers.
Smart move by Facebook! Anonymous Login to Try Apps Without Giving Up Your Data http://t.co/qiWxnqf6AP
— Gaurav Ragtah (@gragtah) May 1, 2014
The anonymous login will definitely entice me to try more FB apps. http://t.co/SfyPxaZZRT
— Adriano Chiaretta (@adri72) May 1, 2014
It didn't take long, however, for the deeper impact of the announcement to start sinking in.
Facebook's Anonymous Login at F8 creates a challenge for app soft sign in—onboarding will have to change.
— Alexander Horré (@alexhorre) May 1, 2014
Some developers suggested their peers will face some challenges to justify the "old ways" of working with Facebook and its vast user base.
Developers, please make the case that allowing your app's users to login with "Facebook Anonymous" is not an obvious mistake. I don't see it
— Jason Alt (@littlewyvern) May 1, 2014
For still others, Facebook's move was hypocritical and misleading, especially since it will continue to use a unique identifier for all app users.
An App developer who enables Facebook Anonymous login wouldn't know their users--but FB would. Hilarious! Does Zuck think we're that stupid?
— jason (@Jason) May 1, 2014
Then again, this could just be more proof that the social network that started on a university campus is really entering the big leagues of business.
.@Jason Hmm. Goal seems to be for Facebook to safeguard identity like Paypal safeguards credit/debit/bank accts.
— Eric Oesterle (@erico) May 1, 2014