Facebook Apps: How to Lose the Annoying Ones

Isn't Facebook, and all of those lovely apps, fun? It's such a convenient social networking program that allows you to stay in touch with friends, family, and co-workers. Sometimes folks who haven't seen each other in years even re-connect. Every once in a while a body finds love. For these things, Facebook, we owe ye. But for allowing anyone with a few minutes to kill, to create another annoying, mis-spelled app we do not.

They're the bane of social networking, those apps. Few things bug me more than to go to my Facebook profile, and see that I've been "hit" by ten Tootsie Roll pillows, and another five people have "asked" me what type of this, or what type of that, are you? It's just annoying. I joined Facebook to network, and to keep in touch with folks I like, not to answer "IQ Tests" full of terribly mis-spelled questions.

Something tells me the folks who make the Facebook app IQ tests...maybe aren't so qualified to administer them. I dunno. Call it a hunch.

I'll admit to having shared a few Facebook apps myself. But that was before I realized what sort of a monster we were contributing to. Now that I've come to learn about this for myself, the question comes up, of how to stop them. We can ask our friends to stop sending them...to no avail. The Facebook app beastie has taken on a life of it's own.

While I can't claim to know this for sure, it seems many of these "comest hither" invites from Facebook apps, just might be automatically sent without knowledge of the sender. It may not be our friend's fault. (Just to be clear: I don't actually know this to be a fact, but when asked, some of my friends say they don't remember sending to me. Selective memory? Who knows?)

Then there's the spyware. How many of us have a Facebook account that's been hijacked, or know someone who has? Yup. Those apps might not be the specific source of the spyware, but the knowledge we authorize a stranger to have by playing them, might very well facilitate that garbage. Enough!

Good news! The Facebook app beastie can be killed! It's easy! It just takes a little time and it's time well spent. (Disclaimer: I use Windows Vista on a PC laptop. Other computers and Operating systems might be different. You know your system better than I ever could but I've been told it's all basically the same. Some invites still show up. I know not why they do so on Facebook. But we never need respond, right?)

Facebook Apps: How To Lose the Annoying Ones Step One:

On your Facebook page (profile or home), near the upper right-hand corner of the page, you'll see the word "Account." Mouse-over it. A drop-down menu should appear. Choose application settings.

Facebook Apps: How To Lose the Annoying Ones Step Two:

The page that now appears is usually set to display applications used recently. Do not settle for that option. Click the drop-down menu and select "authorized." Now you'll see every single application ever allowed to access your profile, your information, and that of your friends...even the embarrassing ones authorized on a fun little whim so long ago that you found so funny as a noob.

Prepare to face-palm in shame. But this is no time to kick yourself. I found 242 on my own list. Some would make a sailor blush with shame. A couple even made me blush and anyone who knows me knows how much of a challenge that can be. Keep an eye out for one called "Un-named App." They're at the very bottom.

Facebook Apps: How To Lose the Annoying Ones Step Three:

To the right of the list, you'll see an "X" for each individual app. Click the "x" for each app you want to remove. After clicking each "x," wait for a second or two. A "warning" box will appear that reads "If you remove (this app), it will no longer have access to your data and be removed from your profile, bookmarks, and Applications Page." Trust me. This is what you want. Click "okay." You're also offered the option to leave a rating of one to five stars for the app. That's up to you.

You're still not done. Wait a few seconds more while Facebook's system prepares to delete the app from your files. Another box will appear saying "You have removed (this app)." Click "ok." You must click the "ok" button to completely remove the selected app.

What may be the best part of this is, you get to keep those apps you might want to, and no more Tootsie Roll pillows come at you.

Facebook Apps: How To Lose the Annoying Ones - There! Doesn't that feel better?

Since doing this myself, I've noticed a marked difference in how much spam I get, how smooth my Facebook page loads, and how quickly I can go from page to page. It's almost like having a new computer. You're welcome! See you on Facebook!

Source:

Facebook.com
(Originally published on Factoidz.com.)