I am at a loss.
Why is it that while some enjoy the sumptuous privilege of having an RSS feed for their Facebook status messages, others are left out in the cold?
I have been relegated to this sordid underclass - those with no ability to perform the oh-so-important task of feeding facebook status changes into their Jaiku-streams. Imagine how it feels. In fact, don’t imagine, discover for yourself if you have been branded a filthy dirt-encrusted RSS leper by following the following trail:
1.) Go to your Facebook profile. Don’t have one? Why are you reading this? There are so many things you might be doing with your time.
2.)On the mini-feed, click on “show all”
3.) On this new screen, under “view” click on the “status stories” link.
This is the moment of truth. This is where you get to know if you are part of the Facebook elite or not. Like me. If you see this…
Congratulations, you made it to club golden-balls. I doff my peasant’s cap in your direction.However, if you, like me, see the following gaping absence of a feed…
Tough luck, you are one of us lowly bottom-feeders not deemed worthy.
Now seriously, I am sure that there is a simple explanation for this. Unfortunately, having tested just about every privacy setting I could find, run Facebook on OSX and Windoze, had friends replicate my miserable condition on their own computers, and finally had my email returned to my inbox from the Facebook press contact account, I am none the wiser.
I know I am not alone in this. Join me in my righteous indignation.
Oh, and if you figure it out, I would love to know the answer. Enough to shout you a shiny bauble or even two sticks of rock.
Special thanks to Andrew for the screenshot of a working version of the RSS feed
Update - The plot thickens over in the comments section of this post from Design Meme. Apparently this isn’t a US/Europe issue.
9 Comments
Are you sure it’s not a hoax? Where did you take that screenshot from?
By the way… If that’s true, seems like we both aren’t in the élite Facebook members group…
There was me thinking it was just me going crazy. I haven’t got the feed either on my profile. Wonder if it’s anything to do with not being able to confirm my profile via SMS to my mobile phone (I’m in the UK, and they only support US networks)?
Livia, the screenshot was from a guy I found on Facebook and in forums - I believe he is genuine, as he clearly thought me insane when I asked exactly where the feed was on the view menu.
Alex - I wonder if that is the answer. Maybe I need to interrogate some friendly US folk to see if they are the only ones in club élite!
This fixed the problem for me:
privacy -> applications -> Notes privacy settings ->
Anyone who can see my notes can subscribe to my notes ->
Save
Then try it again:
Profile -> mini-feed See All -> Status Stories
Bless you Dan-o I want to have your babies. Sincerely and without reservation.
Yep I’m a leper but there is some RSS available
(on display in a disused filing cabinet marked ‘BEWARE OF THE LEOPARD’)
http://www.facebook.com/help.php?page=23
Has the skinny.
Fang - Mike Seyfang
The Privacy Fix fixed it for me. (thx Dan-o)
Dan-o
I want to give you a big beardy hairy faced kiss. I am willing to wear lipstick if that does it for you.
Yay yay yay for Dan-o and the privacy fix!
Mike
Glad that your leprosy at least has RSS