With this innocent post a few weeks ago, the ubiquitous social-networking Web site Facebook announced an "update" to its terms of use. No big deal, right? Not too many users were even aware that it even occurred.
Soon thereafter, however, some media outlets began to dig a little deeper, and what they found was pretty shocking to a number of people. Under the new rules, you forfeit any and all rights of control over content you post on the site, even after you've deleted an account. The Consumerist was the first to break this revelation.
Word spread quickly, and before they knew it, Facebook was flooded with angry responses from people all over the world. It didn't take long for Mark Zuckerberg and his crew to cave in to the pressure. Now, they've revoked the changes, and have promised to include more user input in future decisions.
Where does that leave us, the average college student who logs in without fail every day? If we don't pay close attention to what Facebook, or any other site we belong to, is doing, then we run the risk of losing individual content control. The challenges of cyberspace are numerous, but this is definitely a battle we can't afford to lose.
2009-02-21
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2 comments:
We all just have to act as if everything we post on the Web is going to be there forever and can be seen by everyone.
Of course we also know that the only things that meet the above criteria are those that are embarrassing or inflammatory ;-| and will follow us for life.
It will be there forever, oh young & innocent ones. And you can count on your future employers and grad schools digging into your "fun Friday night" pictures in order to ascertain what is really behind that resume or application.
Soon, in case you have not heard or figured it out, all of Facebook will be Google-able. Be very scared.
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