Facebook’s Privacy Trainwreck

This article was really interesting because it’s not often that readings assigned in school are about something we actually went through. I remember when facebook added the news feed. Everyone’s reaction was pretty much exactly what the article described. Now I think everyone has accepted it as part of facebook and for the most part people are ok with it. The privacy options help the situation alot though. I would definitely not like everything that I do on facebook posted on the feed, not that I do anything I’m ashamed of, I just don’t like the idea of being tracked. But the fact that we can now choose what goes on there is ok with me. And I do find it interesting to read the feed once in a while when I’m bored. However I agree with what the article said about people getting a false sense of knowing their “friends” on facebook. The majority of my friends on facebook are just aquaitences and when you continuously see the same people with stories on the feed you start to feel like you know the person when in actuality you don’t. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but like the article mentioned there’s always the crush factor. People can follow their crush on facebook and start to feel like they know the person when the other person may have no idea who they are. It sounds like it could be a slightly annoying situation, but nothing major unless the person becomes obsessive. That is also an issue with the news feed. Websites like facebook/myspace leave people very susceptible to stalking (or at least internet stalking) as it is, but the feed just throws everything out there and makes it so much easier and possibly even tempting for people with stalker-like behaviors.

Another thing I don’t like about the feed is that it makes it too easy to stay in the loop. You don’t even have to leave your room or talk to anyone anymore to stay in the loop. But is that really being in the loop? Is sitting in front of a computer screen reading about other people’s lives the same as being involved with other people’s lives? And talking and spending time with other people? The internet and computers are amazing technologies but it worries me because they make life too easy. You can do almost everything at home sitting in front of the computer. I honestly fear that the internet might some day replace in-person communities. What if someday people don’t go out and do things at all? They go to school online, work online, buy everything online and have it delivered to their house, and even socialize online. People would just stay home all day everyday. I realize that is a bit extreme but hopefully you can see my point.