I recently read an article in my MCS222 class called “How Sticky is Membership on Facebook? Just Try Breaking Free” by Maria Aspan. Aspan was discussing the issue that some people have been having with deleting their facebook accounts. Apparently many users are finding that when they want to deleter their accounts it is a painstakingly difficult process. Users have to go item to item and delete each wall entry, group, photo etc. If one simply clicks to erase their account it will only be deactivated. Facebook retains any information you have left on the page because as they say “deactivated accounts mean that a user can reactivate at any time and their information will be available again just as they left it.” Facebook’s terms of use state that “you may remove your user content from the site at any time,” but also that “you acknowledge that the company may retain archived copies of your user content” (Aspan, 1).
I can not help but wonder where Facebook makes this statement clear? I know that if while signing up for the user generated site back in 2004 that I came across such a statement I would have most definately declined memebership. At that time facebook was not as wide spread as it is now, and my reason for using it was to link to other students in my classes. However, now they allow anyone to join the site, and listing such personal information as a class schedule can be extremely dangerous!!! I guess the moral of this article is to be more aware of your facebook (and Internet) footprint, and do not post things you would not want people to have access to forever!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I always considered it strange just how much personal information people leave on their Facebook accounts. Although class schedules are one thing, I've seen people outline all of their weekly activities on Facebook. Monday to Friday, 24/7 I could probably track them down if that information was accurate. Very dangerous indeed if it gets in the wrong hands.
-Matthew Morgal
I learned something from reading this post. I kind of feel violated actually, that facebook would try to make deleting your facebook account virtually impossible. I do not feel as though they should have the right to keep your footprint upon the termination of your facebook. I guess it is a good thing I try to monitor my facebook as much as possible, so that my footprint is respectable.
Facebook is a tool that I think will be around for a long time. I do think that people need to be a little more educated about what to put on their facebooks and what not too. Although it can be useful, it can be a very dangerous tool that can be harmful to many to you and your friends. You need to use cution when posting schedules or pictures that could get you in trouble.
Post a Comment