Facebook Privacy Restrictions
Communication and
Critical Thinking
Research Essay 1
Topic: Privacy Restrictions of Facebook – Unquestionable or Unachievable
Date of Submission: 25th October 2010
It is alarming how fast technology is improving. Nowadays, it seems like having a Facebook account is a daily necessity or even a trend. According to a research done by TIMES magazine, more than one in four people who browse the Internet not only have a Facebook account but have returned to the site in the past thirty days. It is truly alarming how much Facebook has expanded. “Sometime in the next few weeks, Facebook will officially log its 500 millionth active citizen.” (Fletcher, 2010, TIMES, p. 16) Fletcher (2010) also stated that Facebook would be the world’s third largest country by population, which is two- thirds larger than America, if it were granted terra firma. With such a high popularity, an increasing number of Facebook users had raised the issue on privacy – limiting what others can say about you and who can say it. I believe that everyone does have the right to privacy. However, when it comes to sharing information on such a virtual yet convenient media, the Internet, can privacy restrictions really be achieved that easily and securely? In addition, will Facebook take that chance to make a major loss in its business?
Devils are in the details. The Facebook’s Terms of Use may not be as fair and protective on their users’ privacy disclosure. As argued by Yoder in his website article “Top Ten Reasons You Should Quit Facebook”, Facebook not only compels its users to keep updating by threatening to terminate their accounts, it also states that it owns your data. Some may argue that these terms may only be set to defend the interests of Facebook. However, who can protect the interests of the many Facebook users? Being such a broadly used media, is it not the least reasonable to review the ethics policy and start readjusting the privacy settings? On the other hand, Facebook is
Critical Thinking
Research Essay 1
Topic: Privacy Restrictions of Facebook – Unquestionable or Unachievable
Date of Submission: 25th October 2010
It is alarming how fast technology is improving. Nowadays, it seems like having a Facebook account is a daily necessity or even a trend. According to a research done by TIMES magazine, more than one in four people who browse the Internet not only have a Facebook account but have returned to the site in the past thirty days. It is truly alarming how much Facebook has expanded. “Sometime in the next few weeks, Facebook will officially log its 500 millionth active citizen.” (Fletcher, 2010, TIMES, p. 16) Fletcher (2010) also stated that Facebook would be the world’s third largest country by population, which is two- thirds larger than America, if it were granted terra firma. With such a high popularity, an increasing number of Facebook users had raised the issue on privacy – limiting what others can say about you and who can say it. I believe that everyone does have the right to privacy. However, when it comes to sharing information on such a virtual yet convenient media, the Internet, can privacy restrictions really be achieved that easily and securely? In addition, will Facebook take that chance to make a major loss in its business?
Devils are in the details. The Facebook’s Terms of Use may not be as fair and protective on their users’ privacy disclosure. As argued by Yoder in his website article “Top Ten Reasons You Should Quit Facebook”, Facebook not only compels its users to keep updating by threatening to terminate their accounts, it also states that it owns your data. Some may argue that these terms may only be set to defend the interests of Facebook. However, who can protect the interests of the many Facebook users? Being such a broadly used media, is it not the least reasonable to review the ethics policy and start readjusting the privacy settings? On the other hand, Facebook is
References: Printed: * Fletcher, D., (2010, May 31), Facebook and How It’s Redefining Privacy. TIME magazine, pp. 16- 20 Non- Printed: * Yoder D., (2010 May 3), Top Ten Reasons You Should Quit Facebook, available from: http://gizmodo.com/5530178/top-ten-reasons-you-should-quit-facebook, [date accessed: September 19, 2010]