Facebook irked users this week by automatically changing the e-mail address visible on their timelines to Facebook.com addresses.
Users lashed out at the social network on forums and other social platforms, claiming Facebook did not request permission to make such changes.
Facebook has, however, responded by pointing users to an announcement the social network made in April, in which it stated it was planning to make e-mail addresses consistent across the site. At the same time, Facebook began rolling out its Facebook.com addresses to users. E-mails sent to that address are sent directly to the user's messages folder within Facebook.
"In addition to everyone receiving an address, we're also rolling out a new setting that gives people the choice to decide which addresses they want to show on their timelines,” said a Facebook spokesperson.
While users can simply go to their contact information and change the listed e-mail address, their Facebook address is the one that is now displayed by default.
Facebook has been continuously working towards expanding its services in order to keep users engaged within a single online ecosystem. The social network's step into e-mail services also ramps up its rivalry with Google. Google's Gmail service provides the Internet giant with a wealth of insight into user's interests and habits, which feed into the company's targeted advertising model.
Users turned to the other social networks, such as Twitter, to voice their anger over the move by Facebook. Some tweets included:
“Warnings would have been nice Facebook, don't just go and change e-mail addresses.”
“Not so happy that Facebook just changed my visible e-mail address without my permission or any warning!”
“That was a sneaky little trick, Facebook. I already have an e-mail address I like, thank you very much.”
“Want to delete my Facebook account, sick of it especially now with the e-mail address override. Last straw for me.”
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