Facebook user survey highlights insecurity over Beacon fiasco

Facebook is surveying its users on their profile pages in an effort to gauge the damage from the Beacon fiasco.

I couldn't resist the survey since I wanted to see how Facebook backed into the big Beacon question (it was near the end). Here's the survey and my answers, which may indicate how Facebook is losing some of its luster (recent coverage).

Question 1: Which best describes how often you log-in to Facebook?

The options:

• Logged in all the time
• More than once a day
• About once a day
• About once a week
• About once a month
• Less than once a month
• I don't remember

My answer: About once a week maybe twice. In the early going, I hit Facebook a lot more. I don't have the urge to go there more often than I do.

Question 2: How satisfied are you with Facebook overall?

The options:

• Very satisfied
• Satisfied
• Neutral
• Unsatisfied
• Very unsatisfied
• I don't know

My answer: I was neutral. I was never in the "I love Facebook" camp. It's a fine utility, but it's also one that could be applied elsewhere. Maybe Facebook is a destination. It could also be a feature. Perhaps Ning has been more useful to me.

Question 3: Have you recommended Facebook to a friend in the past?

Options:

• Yes
• No
• I don't know

My answer: I haven't recommended Facebook, but that could be because most of the folks I need to contact are already on board. Question 4: Do you plan to recommend Facebook to friends in the future?

Options:

• Yes
• No
• I don't know

My answer: Probably not. I'm just not much of an evangelist.

Question 5: Which of the following statements best describes your usage of Facebook?

Options:

• I use Facebook more now than in the previous month
• I use Facebook the same amount now as I did in the previous month
• I use Facebook less now than in the previous month
• I don't know

My answer: I use Facebook less than I did the previous month for no particular reason.

Question 6: What best describes why your usage of Facebook has decreased?

Options:

• Bad press
• Many of my friends left Facebook
• I don't trust the site
• I don't know
• I can't find any of my friends on Facebook
• I don't have time
• The site doesn't meet my needs
• I use another website more

My answer: I honestly didn't know, but those choices reveal some serious worry from the Facebook camp. Let's see Facebook is worried about media coverage and trust. Holy insecurity Batman.

Question 7: Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree.

My answer: I was mostly neutral although when it came to trust I hesitated.

Question 8: How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following words to describe Facebook?

Here was another agree/neutral/disagree series of options that included:

• Smart
• Cutting-edge
• Easy-to-use
• Innovative
• Professional
• Empowering
• Trustworthy
• Fast-moving
• Responsive
• Fun
• Young
• Secure
• Dependable
• Creative

My overall answer: I was largely neutral, but Facebook's recent actions with Beacon dinged professional and trustworthy to the "disagree" category. Why? You don't opt-in everyone with Beacon and win any praise for trust. And CEO Mark Zuckerberg was dinged the professional part. He's the face of Facebook and professional isn't an adjective I'd use. Perhaps it's time for grown-up management. Meanwhile, Valleywag notes that Zuckerberg is already insider selling--before Facebook goes public. Actually Valleywag has taken that report back.

Question 9: Have you heard of Facebook Beacon?

Options:

• Yes
• No
• I don't know

My answer: Yes of course. I couldn't help but wonder how transparent this poll was and what Facebook was trying to get at. It's called damage control and Beacon should have been in the first five questions since we all know that's why this poll exists.

Question 10: Is there anything else you want to tell Facebook?

My answer: This question featured an open field to play with. I told Facebook not to screw the service up (it will) and remember users come first (it won't). On further review, I should have said that Facebook should get a new CEO. I was brief since I'm sure Facebook will get an earful from other folks.