Facebook Applications

Facebook Applications are computer programs that are available to use while you are logged into the Facebook website. These programs interact with core Facebook features such as a user's news feed, profile and Facebook wall. Applications can be self-contained or interface with websites located outside of Facebook. They use the Facebook Markup Language to control the look and feel of applications that developers create.

Some popular Facebook applications are Farmville, iHeart and FamilyLink.com.http://www.facebook.com/apps/directory.php

As of April 22, 2010, Facebook no longer has the policy that applications can only retain user data for 24 hours. Facebook's founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, announced this at Facebook's 2010 f8 conference for application developers. The developers are happy about this. It makes their job easier. However, this makes Facebook applications valuable targets for hackers, as they can access users' personal data this way.http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/how_to_delete_facebook_applications_and_why_you_should.php

Application spam and copyright infringement are some of the other issues that Facebook applications deal with. In July of 2008, Hasbro shut down popular Facebook app Scrabulous, a word game with similarities to Hasbro's Scrabble.http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/07/29/endgame-scrabulous-gets-wiped-off-facebook/ User-based complaints have involved unwanted application invites, which many users have equated to spam. Facebook has implemented a block application feature to combat application spam.http://www.appscout.com/2008/02/is_facebook_application_spam_dead.php However, only 6,000 applications can be blocked, and users have to block them one at a time, by hand.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYlzVyEYKBo