The new Friendster website is not a phishing site, and so the Department of Information and Communications Technology should hold its horses and calm down.
While I do not doubt the National Computer Emergency Response Team's findings that the website has been a magnet for phishing and DDoS attacks, it is no different from mainstream social media companies that also experience cyberattacks daily.
In fact, it is similar to your typical Facebook, Twitter, and Tiktok accounts except that these huge entities commodify your membership and sell your data to third parties.
Seriously, are you afraid that your data is being compromised and that the new Friendster is gathering data once you sign up?
The scare tactic being peddled about how unsafe the new Friendster reflects how ignorant the agency is. Or is it just scared to take other social media platforms to task about their shortcomings in protecting the privacy of users?
It is also discriminatory for the DICT to say that using ".click" would be a red flag because it is a legitimate domain extension, although I concede that it is not top-tier.
With that said, there is something inherently wrong about the new Friendster as it appears that all activities will be public and even new signups can be seen among the 8,000 members.
Tracking your digital footprint in the new Friendster would be relatively easy as there may be privacy violations that can occur as your whole activity including the highly regarded testimonial can be read by everyone.
Signing up for it would also lead you to a third-party application which means that you are not only allowing your data to be gathered by the new Friendster, but it also requires you to give it to another party.
Media is also limited for now to photos and while it is a "throwback" to the past, there is a limited option on how you can interact. The forum-based Friendster will allow you to join different groups but that's basically it. If you want anonymity, join Reddit and see how expansive and how innovative forums are in the age of social media.
The simplicity of the new Friendster may not be commercially attractive, especially since phone technology is now much more advanced. Its domain owner would have to invest in hardware and competent personnel to do high-level coding and pass the standards of Google Play and the Apple Store.
Users joining the new Friendster is a decision for them to make, but my personal assessment is that its most dangerous aspect is that it incites boredom.
With limited features and no security features that would protect your digital footprint, people will easily leave the page in its current state.
