In How to Think about Information,
Dan Schiller explains the way information is used as a commodity through
social labour via the internet. Major social media sites such as Facebook sell the
information of its users as commodities to companies interested in advertising
on the website. Everything we search or like on the website is collected as
information. They are legally entitled to our information because of the terms
and condition we agree to when signing up for the website allowing them to
access all of our information even if we deactivate our account.
Do you guys feel this is an invasion of privacy or is
Facebook entitled to our information in exchange for free access to its web
page?
Facebook is a platform that allows users to communicate with one another as well as share photos and videos, which may be private. Facebook does keep the records of users however; I do not believe that this is an invasion of privacy as the user is be aware that information is recorded, which is stated in their terms and conditions. If the user is using Facebook’s network, Facebook is entitled to recording that information for there own purposes. This information may be used to analyze the patterns of users to better their site. Moreover, an alternate perspective to privacy violations is websites ability to track your online actions and promote a product or brand elsewhere online. This may be viewed as a privacy breach as your actions are being recorded unknowingly and commodified for corporate gain.
ReplyDeleteWhile we know that Facebook collects our data and commodifies it, and we accept that as an exchange for the use of the service, I believe there is definitely a sense of exploitation involved. Users as young as 13 years old can sign up for Facebook (though many sign up younger), and I don't think that children are equipped to think critically about the terms and conditions of a website, thus being more likely to sign up without realizing they are labouring for Facebook and less likely to realize the implications of doing such a thing.
ReplyDeleteI also think, being communications students, we have a much deeper insight into what it means when we use Facebook than other people might. The information about data storage is embedded into pages upon pages of fine print under the terms and conditions, which acts as a deterrent to people actually learning what they are agreeing to.
It's the above practices that I think are unethical compared to the actual storage/use of our information, which should only be done with informed consent.
I have often considered deleting my Facebook account since understanding the true dynamics of Facebook. Yes I agree that Facebook is an invasion of privacy, however I am aware of this and still proceed to put information willingly on my account. Since knowing that my information is being collected, analyzed and sold as a commodity to advertisers I now only choose to put a limited amount of information on the website. I do not post personal information as much as possible, however Facebook can make this hard to do as it often updates and requires more information or constantly is seeking your cell-phone number for better “security” on your account. Therefore yes Facebook is an invasion of privacy but with the opportunity to stay in touch with friends and loved ones, I as well as many others choose to overlook this exploitation. I believe education about how to protect one’s personal information and know about the hidden dynamics of Facebook should be better taught to students and especially teenagers and children signing up for Facebook for the first time.
ReplyDeleteI do not that that Facebook is 'entitled' to our information but we are also not ignorant to the fact that our information is accessible when we use this website. Facebook does not hide that our privacy is being infiltrated while we use their media platform. It is a personal choice whether or not to use Facebook and allow access to our personal information. The other important thing to remember is that the only information that Facebook has access to is that which we consciously post online. If there is something we would like to keep private, we should not post it on a social media platform, plain and simple. People seem to think that they should be allowed to use social media and maintain full privacy... well that's not the way it works and it is a well known fact at this point. As long as people are educated on the realities of privacy online, it is a personal decision and not Facebook's fault for utilizing valuable information to make a profit.
ReplyDeleteI feel that because of how prominent Facebook is today, we are less skeptical about how much of our information they are entitled too because everyone else is doing it. We feel more comfortable sharing and posting because it has become normal. I as well have contemplated deleting my Facebook because I do feel that too much of my information is available, and regardless of privacy settings, personal information can still be obtained. By engaging in social media, you are basically waving your right to privacy. If someone wants to maintain complete privacy of their personal and professional lives, they should not be on any type of social media.
ReplyDeleteWhen you sign up for Facebook, as long as you understand fully what these terms and conditions entail, then Facebook are justified in selling this information on. As long as the companies that they are selling the information to operate in a legal ethical and moral standard, then I have no problem with this information being passed on to third parties.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of the concept of estranged free labour in that our information that we are generating is being used for profit by companies like Facebook that utilize data mining. I believe that today it ends up being a trade off for most people. We are well aware of the fact that Facebook being entitled to our information isnt ideal and borders on an invasion of privacy, but were not willing to give up using it just because of that. I also think that most people have with Facebook, and because they joined when it was fairly simple in its beginnings, and the rules and date being gather grew their lives were already intertwined and on the platform
ReplyDelete