Following last weeks upset at Facebook, when several prominent Facebook users threatened to close their accounts at the end of May due to new privacy rules, Mark Zuckerburg, founder of the company that literally changed the face of social media, announces today an amended privacy plan.
Mark Zuckerburg admitted that the company had ‘missed the mark’ with their plans to make more information public unless users delved into the complicated profile controls to conceal it from all but their friends or friends of friends.
A wave of criticism has washed over Facebook after Canadian Privacy Commissioner demanded changes, followed by numerous petitions to the Federal Trade Commission in the United States.
I haven’t actually counted them, but according to one source, Facebook users have to select from 170 privacy related options within 50 different and often confusing settings. The privacy statement is also longer than the US Constitution.
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Mark Zuckerburg said that the company wanted to change the nature of the Internet to one of ‘social default’. Presumably, this means they want everyone to know about everyone else. No more secrets, no more hidden identities. Eventually, we will all be so integrated we will no longer have autonomy.
This is the nature of the World Wide Web. It has the power to share information. It has the power to make changes globally and adjust the way humans think en masse. Certainly this can be advantageous and perhaps it even has something to do with a global shift in human consciousness and awakening. It also has the potential to change the very essence of mankind and before we allow that to happen, we need to consider it VERY carefully. What might seem like a good idea now, can easily become a loose canon in years to come
‘I have nothing to hide’. A common retort by the good citizens of this world, but, isn’t this kind of revolution similar to Red China under Mao ZeDong? Jospeh Stalin tried to remove the greater part of individuality through communism as did countless other dictators. Demanding that everybody dresses the same way, eats the same way, lives the same way and ultimately thinks the same way, manifests automatons, not individuals. It is our freedom and individuality that encourage creativity and diversity. Social media is rapidly becoming one of the most powerful thought control tools on the planet and before we give it free rein we need to apply our deepest consideration. It could easily become a global dictator via the back door.
As virtual assistants we give considerable thought to privacy when setting up social media accounts, especially for our clients. There is a fine line between welcome publicity and unwelcome privacy breaches. Having said my piece, I just have to post this on my blog, Tweet it, Hoot it, post it on Facebook, Buzz it, Stumble it, Reddit, Digg it ……. Me? I’m not a social media geek!
