Before I get started, I am in no way accusing Facebook of committing any crimes. I may, however, not agree with many of its actions, along with the shadiness of how much power it may have without anyone knowing. The craziest part about all of this – this “shadiness” – is hidden within the grasp of each user, but barely anyone takes the time to read the official privacy policy.
But why read a privacy policy when you can read a random acquaintance’s status? You know the one, right? That person who you’ve walked by a few times in the hall, yet never said a word to? Or how about that friend of a friend of a friend that you don’t know at all but think is attractive, so you send them a friend request and then are able to virtually see their entire life on a computer screen?
Facebook may or may not be turning us into a socially awkward society that feels more comfortable communicating through typing than speaking face to face, but that’s an argument for another time.
In its privacy policy, Facebook states that once a user has any change to his or her profile (wall post, tagged picture, new status, new ‘About Me’ section, etc.), that they have the right to retain the information for up to eighteen months after. Also, right in the beginning, Facebook claims that: “This privacy policy covers all of Facebook. It does not, however, apply to entities that Facebook does not own or control, such as applications and websites using Platform.” This leads to trouble when the privacy policy is read more in-depth, and the truth about what these “entities” like applications are really doing.
Facebook claims: “That means that when you use those applications and websites you are making your Facebook information available to someone other than Facebook.” Now my questions rise: Who is really controlling these applications? Could it be possible that Facebook has a deal behind the scenes with these applications to use them as a front for something bigger? Think about it. Our generation puts nearly everything it does on Facebook whether it is in statuses or pictures or posts. Like I said, I’m not accusing or making any outlandish claim that Facebook is trying to take over the Internet (because that would just be ridiculous!), but merely stating that I think before we put our entire lives into a profile, we should be more enlightened on where that information is really going after all of our friends see it.
Jay Daniels • Feb 16, 2011 at 11:24 am
I am an older student here at Suffolk. My age is arbitrary, but I’ll just say that I was on the precursor to MySpace and Facebook before the average student was even old enough to know what social networking was; Friendster. What Facebook claims as “privacy policy” is a complete joke, especially when compared with MySpace and Friendster. Most of my friends my age use Facebook with a cautious eye, but I have noticed a dramatic difference amongst the usage with my Suffolk friends.
The obvious is that the younger friends post everything. They have no internal form of censorship. Why 18 year olds feel the need to announce the most mundane nuances to the world is beyond me. At least people my age know when and what to keep private.
Those my age also understand that Facebook sells your information. That is right. Unlike MySpace, Facebook makes its money by allowing advertisers and third-party apps to mine your information. Ever wonder how those few ads on your page seem to be directly related to content on your profile? Every time you like something, data is collected. Every time you use an app, not only is your information now accessable, but so is the information contained with all of your friends, too.
The data collected is primarily used for adverstising, but keep in mind that when you “agree” to use an app you are also agreeing to allow the providers of that app full access not only to your information, but to your friends info as well. This includes access to your, and your friends, photos, wall posts, status updates, etc.
The good news is that there is a way to block the data mining, but that would take a little effort, and gasp, reading (just like NOBODY ever bothers to read the Terms of Agreement), but the easiest way is to just stop using apps.
Gen Y should be changed to the Generation That Is Too Stupid And/Or Just Doesn’t Give A Fuck About Privacy. Good luck with that job search.