Facebook has this feature for webmasters to use called Facebook Connect, or Facebook Login. It allows webmasters to integrate the system on their forum so that members can join using their facebook accounts. Which is a very quick way to join a forum. Alot of people use it to join forums because it is a quick way and dosent require any work. I myself use it if forums have it enabled. So since webmasters have members joining through facebook connect, what would happen if facebook connect suddenly stopped working, or facebook removed it? I doubt facebook would remove it, but it can stop working for example a reason would be server problems or downtime.. So if it was removed or it stopped working all the members that joined through facebook wouldnt be able login anymore. What would you do in this situation?
Not that, the already registered members wouldnt be able to login anymore. So say you have 500 members, and 300 used Facebook login to join, they could no longer login.
Don't you have to create a username after using FB Connect? I registered on several forums using it and don't have to connect to it every time; I just use the username and password I listed after connecting. Besides, what would you do if you deactivated your FB account?
Oh okay, I see what you are saying. Yea I just join using it and choose the username, but most dont require you to enter a password so i dont.
I've never used Facebook connect personally but I know a few members that have and prefer it. It's an option at my forum but it doesn't get used much. I don't really like it either. Facebook is taking over everything and is involved with nearly everything. Social Networking like FB, MySpace, and Twitter should stay away from forums, in my opinion.
If they still had the cookies and such, then you can always tell them to make their own password, or reset it for them.
I don't use FB connect on forums, so I don't think it would affect me too much. If we had something like that on CT, I would probably advise those members that log in with it to create their own accounts.
I'd wait until it came back because I have like 50 members joined through facebook connect - and I've changed one or two usernames because it was using their real name.