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What are the new Oculus and Facebook rules? Here's why Internet is angry over privacy and profiteering concerns

Despite elaborated purpose, features, and benefits regarding the move, the Internet seems disgruntled. Here's all you need to know about the rules

It is official now that starting this October, a Facebook account will be mandatory for all future Oculus headsets used for virtual reality experience. Although there will be a grace period for anyone with a separate Oculus account, Facebook will end the support for those by January 1, 2023. The decision was announced on Tuesday, August 18 in a press release and via Oculus’s Twitter. The crux of the changes is that anyone who is new to the Oculus device after October must log in with a Facebook account.

On the other front, existing users will have the option of merging their Facebook and Oculus accounts. Anyone who opts to not merge can continue using their Oculus account for two years. “Today, we’re announcing some important updates to how people log into Oculus devices, while still keeping their VR profile. Starting in October 2020, everyone using an Oculus device for the first time will need to log in with a Facebook account. // http://ocul.us/updates," read a tweet from the Oculus Twitter handle.

It added, “If you’re an existing user and already have an Oculus account, you’ll have the option to log in with Facebook and merge your Oculus and Facebook accounts. If you’re an existing user and choose not to merge your accounts, you can continue using your Oculus account for two years.” It further mentioned, “After January 1, 2023, we will end support for Oculus accounts. If you choose not to merge your accounts at that time, you can continue using your device, but full functionality will require a Facebook account.” 

The official press release mentions the reason behind the changes saying that it will make it easier to find, connect, and play with friends in VR. It further states that the changes will facilitate Facebook-powered social experiences, like live-streaming gameplay to one’s Facebook timeline, making calls with parties, joining events, and exploring new experiences like Facebook Horizon. Throwing light on security issues after VR is backed by a Facebook account, the release mentions that the changes will help report bad behavior and protect the community. It mentions that it will enable to hold people accountable and help create a more welcoming environment across our platforms. “And as Facebook adds new privacy and safety tools, Oculus can adopt and benefit from them too.

Despite elaborated purpose, features, and benefits regarding the move, the Internet seems disgruntled. Social media users are saying that there are profiteering motives behind the move and are thrashing Facebook over privacy concerns. Some say that the move shall benefit Facebook users, but not Ocular users. 

“Lol I think this is their solution. They realize people don't want to use Facebook so they buy or incorporate other things people do want to use in the Facebook brand so they can force you to use Facebook. They care more about people using Facebook than anything else.”

“This is such obvious nonsense. Don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining. It’s clear you're doing this for Facebook’s benefit, not Oculus users,” wrote another user.  

“I don't think he can hear with all of that cash stuffed in his ears,” said a disenchanted user. 

Others raise monetary concerns. “It's funny as you assume everyone has the amount of money to both get the index, AND upgrade their pc enough to run games through index.” 

People started sharing privacy concerns too saying that it exploits their data. “I HATE facebook with a burning passion and I REFUSE to use that boomer a** service. Nope. Hate the UI, hate that it exploits my data, hate that it's a requirement to join s**t so anons can't exist anymore. Nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope,” wrote a user.  

“Some people don’t like using Facebook because of its abysmal privacy practices,” wrote another user. 

However, some are in support of the move. “I don't see what the big deal is. I have Facebook, I don't really use it and I would just need to login via Facebook instead of Oculus. What is the issue with that ??”