Still on Facebook? Tsk tsk... FB is NOT your friend

CrossFit quits Facebook, Instagram, accuses social media giant of
censorship, being 'utopian socialists'

By Lukas Mikelionis|May. 25th, 2019

CrossFit, the branded workout regimen, accused Facebook of being
"utopian socialists" and left the platform after the social network
deleted a group dedicated to a diet.

The move to quit both Facebook and Instagram came in the wake of the
decision to delete "without warning or explanation the
Banting7DayMealPlan," a group that advocated a diet aimed at eating
"food that is as close to its natural state as possible — free from
processing, additives, preservatives and sugar."

The group suspension was later overturned, but CrossFit issued a
lengthy statement announcing the end of their presence on the
platform.

"All activity on CrossFit, Inc.'s Facebook and Instagram accounts was
suspended as of May 22, 2019, as CrossFit investigates the
circumstances pertaining to Facebook's deletion of the
Banting7DayMealPlan and other well-known public complaints about the
social-media company that may adversely impact the security and
privacy of our global CrossFit community," the statement read.

The company provided eight "publicly sourced complaints" as the
reasons for quitting.

"Facebook collects and aggregates user information and shares it with
state and federal authorities, as well as security organizations from
other countries," the first reason read.

"Facebook collaborates with government security agencies on massive
citizen surveillance programs such as PRISM," CrossFit said in the
second reason.

"Facebook censors and removes user accounts based on unknown criteria
and at the request of third parties including government and foreign
government agencies," it continued.

"Facebook collects, aggregates, and sells user information as a matter
of business. Its business model allows governments and businesses
alike to use its algorithmically conjured advertising categories as
sophisticated data-mining and surveillance tools."

"Facebook's news feeds are censored and crafted to reflect the
political leanings of Facebook's utopian socialists while remaining
vulnerable to misinformation campaigns designed to stir up violence
and prejudice."

— CrossFit

The company then added that "Facebook's news feeds are censored and
crafted to reflect the political leanings of Facebook's utopian
socialists while remaining vulnerable to misinformation campaigns
designed to stir up violence and prejudice."

The statement noted that CrossFit is a "voluntary user of and
contributor to this marketplace, can and must remove itself from this
particular manifestation of the public square when it becomes clear
that such responsibilities are betrayed or reneged upon to the
detriment of our community."

"Common decency demands that we do so, as do our convictions regarding
fitness, health, and nutrition, which sit at the heart of CrossFit's
identity and prescription," it added.