Q: Some sites now require you to be signed up to Facebook or Twitter, but I've no real interest in either.
A: A few years ago there was talk of a universal 'passport' to let you into resources, but it never really came to much, and I think access via Facebook or Twitter has rather taken that role. It's symptomatic of the way in which the net is going; in 'real life' everyone expects you to have a passport or driving licence and that assumption is now moving onto the web.
All I can suggest is that if you want to see a particular site, create an account with Facebook or Twitter that you can use to authenticate, but which otherwise you never use.
Phil Bradley in CILIP Update (unknown date)
