After much observation I’ve come to the conclusion that Facebook is dangerous. If it wasn’t such a convenient tool for information I’d delete it in a heartbeat, but I can’t help but keep it around. I do so because it’s become such a crutch for me to use when I need someone’s e-mail, AIM screen name, address or any other information that I may need to get business done in my various extracurricular activities. But really, it’s a terrible idea if it’s abused the way the majority of college students abuse it.
Think about it, with Facebook every picture that someone takes of you and me gets posted regardless of what we’re doing in that picture. If we’re underage, at a party and happen to get caught with that infamously dangerous red solo cup in our hand, or playing a game of beer pong, those pictures become evidence of a crime that could be pinned on us.
Every comment we make on someone’s wall is out there for the whole world to see and every group we’re a part of defines us in some arbitrary way or another. We’re exposing our private lives to a public domain in an era where we scream for privacy and assume we’re entitled to privacy. Yet we’re dumb enough to put things on the internet which should never be seen by the public.
With Facebook’s recent snafu involving the “Beacon” program, it begs the question — is anything we do now that we as college students associated with Facebook private anymore?
We are the generation of the internet. All of our information comes from the internet, we communicate via the internet, we shop over the internet and we use computers on an hourly, if not minute, basis in an unprecedented manner. Recently, a Computer Associates security researcher discovered that the Beacon program actually transmitted information about users of Facebook regardless of whether or not they were logged into their account.
Although as recently as this Wednesday, Facebook revised its Beacon program and is allowing users to opt-out of the program. However, it is still scary that a third party such as Facebook has access to private information unbeknownst to the user.
Privacy on the internet is a delicate balance of personal accountability and companies respecting our rights as individuals. Thus far, Facebook’s has done a pretty good job of respecting the wishes of its members by allowing people to opt-out of the program.
However, even with this opt-out option, Facebook is still dangerous. Next time when you loging and open your profile keep in mind that at the same time you are also opening your life up for the world to see and scrutinize, not just presently, but for years to come regardless of whatever “privacy” settings you choose to use. So, be mindful of what you put on your Facebook and what impacts it could have on you months and years down the road.
Are you going to be mindful of what you put on your Facebook the next time you login? Send us an e-mail and tell us at [email protected].
