Here’s a link to the LA Weekly article discussing the new facebook features, which gives users information to 3rd party websites.
http://www.laweekly.com/slideshow/thats-what-she-liked-20-reasons-why-you-should-audit-your-facebook-privacy-settings-29759410/
While the motives behind facebook and the other projects are different, what really separates them. In what cases do we allow others to peer into our lives, in contrast to other situations that we consider invasive. Is it the commidification of personal information that we’re uncomfortable with rather than it’s accessibility?
2 responses so far ↓
jori // 28 April 2010 at 10.32 am
I think it’s interesting that we tolerate advertisements everywhere – online, billboards, television, magazines. However, when gmail or facebook uses our information to personalize advertisements, we freak out. Older forms of advertising used personal information as well, conducting surveys, monitoring consumer spending habits. So, now that this age old habit is more blatant and obvious, we freak out. This isn’t the first time our personal information has been available and used by corporations. So, why now? Why do people easily post personal information publicly all the Internet and then get angry when they see that information used in other places? Instead of stopping the spread of this information, maybe we should start thinking about what we post on the Internet in the first place.
Tlali // 28 April 2010 at 9.41 pm
I agree with you Jori. I think it comes from the ways we socialize now versus before. Many people spend more time socializing behind a computer than with other people. With the popularity of online classes, even the learning experience is being transformed. I think people get a feeling of protection or anonymity behind the screen and fail to conceptualize where the information goes and all its complexity.