It's been two weeks since Facebook removed the apps and games by LOLapps for a weekend for breaking its privacy rules, but that was apparently only a small part of the punishment. Facebook has slapped a much bigger and far-reaching punishment on LOLapps: a six-month suspension of access to all viral channels. This means, users will not be able to make any wall posts, send invitations, or share content within the feed for any of their apps. Essentially, Facebook is cutting off all of LOLapps' viral channels.
This was a bad weekend for Facebook, LOLapps, and the myth that private privacy exists online. All quizzes, and games by LOLapps (including the popular Critter Island) were suspended from Facebook this weekend with no explanation. That is, until the Wall Street Journal released a report that many Facebook apps have been transmitting identifiable information to multiple advertising and Internet tracking companies.Though LOLapps are back online, the damage is done.
Earlier today, I saw a bunch of emails in my mailbox asking me where Critter Island and other games from LOLApps had gone. Call it a lack of journalism curiosity or just Saturday laziness, but I ignored it. Dean Takahashi at Games Beat didn't. Games Beat is reporting that all the LOLapps games have disappeared from Facebook for reasons unknown. This is a big deal, in that LOLapps is one of the biggest social game companies on Facebook, with over 100 million users playing its games and spreading its quizzes and gift apps.