[grepherder]

I'm not taking any sides on this, but yours is another hyperbole, Facebook is definitely not as harmless as email. If every email from everyone around the world went through the same company, and they could data mine it as they wished, then they would be on equal terms.

[Karunamon]

I didn't say anything about harmless, I said they're not a parasite.

Neither is hosted email. They are centrally-managed communications systems which you are free to use or not use as you will.

[taligent]

A LOT of email goes through Gmail, Yahoo and Hotmail each day.