Now that Google+ does a good job covering all my social networking needs, I’ve finally decided to quit my Facebook account. I’m taking this step not so much because I think of Google+ as the superior product (which it is, in my opinion), but rather because I feel Facebook’s overall conduct and treatment of users is completely unacceptable.

It’s no secret that Facebook has a horrendous track record of privacy and security issues. Since I consider all my content there to be public anyway, this isn’t a huge issue for me personally, but it makes it pretty much impossible for me to put any trust in the product or the company behind it. From leaking private photos or video metadata to multiple incidents where they delivered private messages to the wrong recipients, Facebook just doesn’t look like it’s up to the job of handling sensitive information.

Even worse than the unintentional leaking is Facebook’s habit of silently introducing features from which you have to opt-out in order to keep your data private. This is just not a way I want to be treated by a entity that expects me to entrust them with all kinds of private information. In fact, I don’t think any Facebook user should be ok with that.

But the straw that finally broke the camel’s back, was Facebook Inc.’s attempted smear campaign back in May. Not only is it completely ridiculous for a company with Facebook Inc.’s background to accuse its competitors of violating their users’ privacy, but the way in which they tried to pull it off attests to behavior that I am not willing support by using their product any longer.

So, good bye, Facebook. Your services are no longer required.