Many people tend to overlook and accept online agreements without prior, thorough reading. Should the policies be allowed to be changed after several thousand users already agreed to the old terms?
This is the controversy Facebook and its users are currently facing. Facebook updated its terms and deleted the portion in the terms of service regarding termination of an account and how users can delete an account at any time. New language, claiming it would still hold content and licenses after a user deleted an account, is being added to the new terms of service. Facebook should have notified its users prior to this change.
This has many users outraged, including users such as a staff writer for The New Yorker and a popular pop critic. Some users feel as if they are now "owned by Facebook," states The New York Times.
Facebook is probably not the only website that has done this. Users of all websites should use caution and read all terms of service before validating an agreement.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Facebook and its "new policies"
Terms of service outline conduct and acts as a license for companies to store data from users. Reacting from Facebook users regarding the changes of the terms of service, the executive of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, reassures users that they control their information and the website does not.
Facebook allegedly updated its terms and deleted the portion in the terms of service regarding termination of an account and how users can delete an account at any time. Facebook added new language claiming it would still hold content and licenses after a user deleted an account.
After many users created Facebook groups opposing the changes, Facebook executive's were quick to clarify that after deletion of an account, comments the user had posted on other user's pages will remain on the page. According to Facebook, these new terms of service reflect user behavior.
Some Facebook members, including popular critics, have deleted their pages in opposition to the terms of service.
Facebook allegedly updated its terms and deleted the portion in the terms of service regarding termination of an account and how users can delete an account at any time. Facebook added new language claiming it would still hold content and licenses after a user deleted an account.
After many users created Facebook groups opposing the changes, Facebook executive's were quick to clarify that after deletion of an account, comments the user had posted on other user's pages will remain on the page. According to Facebook, these new terms of service reflect user behavior.
Some Facebook members, including popular critics, have deleted their pages in opposition to the terms of service.
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