Facebook among the 15 most hated companies in U.S.

Facebook has, over the course of its existence gone on to become one of the most popular platforms that is there to help scores of people connect and share bits of their everyday lives, and its 800 million stronghold is just an extension of that thought. However, pressing issues pertaining to user privacy and child safety on the social network have now led it to feature on The 15 Most Unliked Companies In America list, Business Insider now reports, painting a contrast picture. Though social networking is an integral part of people's lives, developments over the past few months have drawn considerable ire and have triggered a lot of debate.

Among the most hated?

Another sore point has been Timeline. It presents your entire Facebook history, as well as any personal history you choose to put in, in a chronological order. However, according to a study done by IT security and data protection firm, Sophos, 51 percent of Facebook users are concerned about the Timeline feature. Sophos, in its study found that there are concerns that the additional information that other users have access to and the greater ease to access user information will make it easier for identity thieves and stalkers to get information, which they can then abuse. Sophos conducted a poll of more than 4,100 random respondents from various parts of the world on their opinion of the new Timeline feature. The key findings of the study were:

• 51 percent of users are worried about the new Facebook Timeline feature
• Only 8 percent of users like the new Facebook Timeline feature
• 8 percent of users say they will get used to it
• 32 percent say they don't know why they are still on Facebook

The report quoted one of the users as writing, "I had to change everything. I have not ever done anything. Customer support is non-existent. These people think we can't fight back. I'm talking to an attorney now. Facebook, you're not God."

Other companies featuring on this list include - CenturyLink, United Airlines, American Airlines, Aetna, DirectTV, Bank of America, Delta, U.S Airways, Cox Communications, Comcast, Time Warner, Charter Communications, Northeast Utilities, Long Island Power Authority