Facebook - The Question of Privacy - Essay Example

?[INSERT HERE] [INSERT HERE] [INSERT & NUMBER HERE] 24 March Facebook: The Question of Privacy Mark Zuckerberg,CEO of the social networking website Facebook stated, “Our work to improve privacy continues today” (qtd. in Newman). As students at Harvard, Mark Zuckerberg, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes, created the wildly popular social networking website Facebook. Users of the Facebook website vary from individuals who post profiles with photographs and videos freely to the other end of the spectrum, those who post, but secure their profiles out of fear that their personal information is at risk (Sutherland). Privacy on the Internet A contradiction exists in regards to perspectives on privacy. People want to feel safe on the Internet, going to great lengths to minimize their “cyber footprint” (Changing Ways), from removing their contact information from directories to complaining about “their houses being visible on Google Earth” (Grayling). Yet, millions of other people cannot spend a single day without Internet-access, informing the world of their every action via Twitter and updating their Facebook status with their every thought, a plethora of photographs and personal details. Perhaps the attraction is in the projection of an ideal or image rather than conveying truth (Grayling). That said, Grayling implies websites like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, chat rooms, and other blog sites, may not be extinguishing users’ privacy as much as people think. There is a reason that people are so protective over their privacy. It is true that people need to have a free psychological area where they can be left alone to themselves to sort out personal feelings and thoughts (Grayling). Grayling paints a perfect picture of the need for privacy stating, “If we lived naked in glass houses with our every thought broadcast to the world, we would be as prisoners trapped in the glare of others’ scrutiny, unable to grow, think, relax or relate to others.” The media temptations offered by Facebook and other electronic communication available today will never beat out the innate desire for privacy (Grayling). Changes in Privacy Settings In the past year, Facebook has made several changes, in an attempt to improve privacy. For example, users are now prompted to accept the Facebook terms and conditions when opening an application for the first time, granting the application developer access to personal contact information from the user’s personal profile. This change is geared toward one of Facebook’s largest company initiatives for 2011—e-commerce (Townsend). Although users are prompted to accept or decline the granting of access to personal information when the permission box pops up, it is unlikely that users will read the new terms. Townsend suggests most Internet users have been trained to bypass the fine print and get to the bottom line, clicking anything necessary to get them to what they were initially trying to do. Facebook cannot be blamed for users failing to read the fine print, can they? Based on Townsend’s research on the subject of privacy and recent changes made by the company, it seems Facebook is focusing on profiting from the personal information of its users. The value of contact information and personal details that are provided on the website so freely serves as one of the company’s “greatest potential revenue streams for the future” (Townsend). While Facebook is protecting itself by adding new terms to the permission box that pops up when users access developer applications, it may not only be Facebook benefiting from the personal details being transmitted. Townsend describes rogue applications that are intended to farm user information by pretending to be something they are not. Facebook claims to carefully monitor scams (“Facebook”) such as faux applications that gain access to users information in this manner, but it could take several days before the application is caught and eliminated; meaning countless users at the hands of cybercriminals during that time (Townsend). Opinions on Privacy Mark Zuckerberg believes that public is becoming the “social norm,” which his company is banking on for the future. A major change that took place recently involves users’ loss of the ability to conduct various actions in a private manner. A change to privacy settings within the website interface disallows users to hide their name, friends, location, primary photograph, and other Facebook profiles that the user has “liked” or become a “fan” of. The changes to the settings now automatically post commenting history, additions of new friend, and wall-writing activity on the user’s profile automatically for others to see (Lavrusik). There are, of course, pros and cons to the setting change. One example of a positive outcome of the change is the ability to see activity of current friends, making it far easier to connect with friends that are friends of people you are connected to. However, the reasons why the change is negative outweigh the positive. It is possible that a user’s activity could be misunderstood or taken out of context by those the user is connected with such as co-workers and other professional relationships. The setting may restrict users’ interactivity on other pages, knowing that it will automatically be broadcasted to all who they are in contact with. Although Zuckerberg may be correct in his assessment of public becoming the social norm, “not having the option to control certain aspects in some ways is detrimental to the way we use the site and has the potential to deter users from using the site freely” (Lavrusik). Zuckerberg has made several statements in recent months in an effort to calm users’ fears about their privacy on Facebook. His philosophy is reasonable, but sharing information should be optional, not vice versa. He is quoted empowering users and reminding them of the importance of protecting themselves on the Internet in all forums, not just Facebook (Sutherland). In discussing cultural changes for the future of Facebook, Zuckerberg says, "Its difficult terrain to navigate and we're going to make some missteps, but as the leading service for sharing information we take these issues and our responsibility to help resolve them very seriously" (qtd. in Sutherland). Conclusion Users of Facebook and other social networking sites are ultimately in control of their own personal information and who they wish to share it with. Although it may be fine print, Facebook is safeguarding itself against claims that its privacy policy fails to serve its purpose by requiring users to grant permission when personal information will be shared (“Facebook”). Zuckerberg reiterates the importance of the permission stating, “We wouldn’t share your information in a way you wouldn’t want. The trust you place in us as a safe place to share information is the most important part of what makes Facebook work” (qtd. in Sutherland). Perhaps users should have more control over where their information is going; not only personal information, but details of their activities on the website as well. However, it is the nature of the beast. If people do not feel comfortable with the privacy policy the company has put into place and the changes that are being made, it is probably best that they do not use the website. Zuckerberg, Moskovitz, and Hughes are seemingly preparing Facebook for extensive marketing and e-commerce in the coming years, according to their initiatives presented for 2011 (Townsend). Business is business, and there is not much the public can ask for when using a free service that offers so many positive, entertaining, networking facets. Works Cited "Facebook's Privacy Policy." Facebook. Facebook, 22 December 2010. Web. 24 Mar 2011. Grayling, A. C. "The Importance of Privacy." The Sunday Times. Times Newspapers Ltd, 17 July 2009. Web. 24 Mar 2011. "Hide Your Cyber Footprint." Changing Ways. Changing Ways, 2009. Web. 24 Mar 2011. Lavrusik, Vadim. "Why Facebook’s Privacy Changes are Detrimental to Users." Mashable. Mashable Inc., 12 January 2010. Web. 24 Mar 2011. Sutherland, Doug. "CEO Mark Zuckerberg Take Lead to Discuss Facebook Member's Privacy." Financial Post Executive Blog. National Post Inc., 18 February 2009. Web. 24 Mar 2011. Townsend, Allie. "Uh Oh: More Privacy Changes Come to Facebook." Time Techland. Time Inc., 17 January 2011. Web. 24 Mar 2011. Read More