The Facebook Fiasco

So somehow, some way, despite all the lies, corruption, natural disasters, war, genocide, famine, and all the crap that goes on in the world, the issue of News Feeds on Facebook has, at least in the short term, has become the hot topic among students and young alumni. Although I personally think the issue is totally overblown, the arguments of Big Brother-type stalking features in the updates have brought about questions about privacy in the cyberage, which I believe IS an important issue, and will continue to be an issue as we get deeper into the 21st century.

The Controversy

So for those who are unfamiliar with Facebook, it's a networking tool, primarily for college students, recent alumni, and just recently, high school students, to maintain contact with one another, provide contact information, share pictures, and other cyber-social activities. Just one week ago, to get updates on friends, you had to physically click on a person's profile and read through it, trying to sift through what changes were made.

However, with the new News Feed feature just implemented this week, everything that all your friends have posted or updated all show up once you log in. So if someone changed relationship status from "In A Relationship" to "Single", you'll know it. If new pictures of another friend have been posted, you get to see them. Did your friend find other friends? Guess what, you'll know about that too. Also, with the Mini-Feed feature on individual's profiles, you get to see their own specific history over the past week. It's a plethora of information in one place. For many, it's too much.

The main argument against News Feeds is that it violates individual's privacy. Why should the entire world know if I posted a comment on another person's picture? Why should everyone know that I just became single, as if it were an invitation for the entire world to hit on me? (BTW, my status has ALWAYS been Single on Facebook, and yet no one asks ME out... what's the deal?!?) Such backlash has been growing by leaps and bounds. As of today, more than 730,000 members have joined the "Students against Facebook News Feed (Official Petition to Facebook)" group and growing. It seems that the cyber-youth want Big Brother off their back.

My Opinion

Certainly, individual privacy is an important aspect to any democracy. Information is power, and those who hold sensitive information carry power over those who don't. If people do not have the power to control those who have their information, especially important information like social security numbers, medical records, financial activity, and passwords, then entities beyond our control can destroy lives at their will.

However, despite the overwhelming belief of the thousands (and possibly, millions) to the contrary, I believe the News Feed feature does NOT violate individual's privacy, and that those who are complaining about the News Feed should seriously reconsider utilizing online networking tools in the first place.

Let's be honest here, people... Facebook is a tool used to make information public. When you join Facebook, you make the conscious decision that any information you put out there can be SEEN BY ANYONE WHO HAS AN INTERNET CONNECTION. All the information available in the News Feed was public information to begin with. All that News Feed does is make that information more convenient to find. Anyone who thinks that News Feed suddenly ALLOWS people to stalk others has been living in a bubble. Facebook profiles and comments have ALWAYS been public, and therefore, Facebook stalking has ALWAYS been a possibility for anyone who chose to do so.

So guess what, fearful cyber-populace? If you don't want information to be shared on Facebook, then DON'T PUT IT ON FACEBOOK! If you don't want the world to know you're single, then don't set any relationship status. If you don't want anyone reading your comments about others, then send a private message. If you don't want people to find you, then DON'T HAVE A PROFILE. And while you're at it, don't put up highly sensitive material on online journals either, even if they are set to "protected" or "private". If the only person who should see the material is you, why are you sending the information through cyberspace in the first place?

Conclusion

While I believe the argument that the Facebook News Feed "Orwellian" is not very compelling, the whole controversy has served to make people aware at just how accessible personal information is through the internet. I certainly believe that people have the right to personal privacy. However, you CHOOSE to put up a Facebook profile, and Facebook profiles are NOT PRIVATE. Now if you are really concerned about personal privacy, then go write to your local Congresspersons and pressure them to repeal the USA PATRIOT ACT. Because unlike Facebook, you DON'T have the choice of whether or not you want to be subject to the law.