Facebook invites users to help set policy

The article "Facebook invites users to help set policy" talks about facebook and it's terms of service. Earlier this month it was made clear that Facebook had made changes to the terms of service in which started that Facebook had the ability  "to use, copy, publicly perform or display, distribute, modify, translate, and create derivative works of ... any content you post" until the member deletes the content or deletes their account. 

After the fact, many people became very upset. Some went as far deleting their account  and several were threatening to. Thousands of members joined groups against Facebooks new terms of service. In response, last week facebook announced that they were going back to the old terms of use policy on member information in the time being as they resolve the issue of the thousands of upset members. 

Currently, facebook has created a group online for people to give feedback in what they think. They will review the comments after March 29 and make their decisions from there.

CEO of Facebook, Mark Zucherberg stated, "Companies like ours need to develop new models of governance ... rather than simply reissue a new Terms of Use, the changes we're announcing today are designed to open up Facebook so that users can participate meaningfully in our policies and our future." 

When I first heard facebooks new terms of service, it defiantly got me thinking that I needed to either get rid of my information, or delete my facebook account. However, I think that changes that have come out  of this whole debacle have been overall positive. Letting the people have a say in the outcome makes the people who use facebook feel reassured. 

Can happiness be found online?

The article I read,  "Can happiness be found online?" talks about the growing web2.0 and its social networking websites such as facebook where people around the world are connecting and possibly giving them a sense of happiness. 

Jim Stolze, a writer and researcher says that "the Internet has become our new global campfire... the place where we gather to argue, laugh, talk, learn, love, turn strangers into friends, and to get a sense of belonging...we are a social species and we need to interact in order to feel alive."

However, it also mentions the downfalls some people have when it comes to the internet. Many people who are not very up to date with newer technology like the internet get onto the internet and just get stressed and frustrated when they try to use it. I know that this was definitely true with my mom about two years ago when she really stated to use the internet. With seven kids in my family, there was usually someone home that would help her out when she wanted to get online to order something or look something up. However, as we all slowly moved off to college, i would get phone calls form my mom almost in tears because she was so frustrated. I know one instance she called me crying saying that someone had stolen all of her credit card information. After about 15 minutes of trying to figure out what she was talking about, I realized that it was just some pop-up for a anti-fraud company.

On the other hand, I do think that many people around the world are finding happiness from social networking services from facebook to youtube. I know I could sit in front of the computer all day watching funny youtube videos.

Google Latitude: Is the public ready for mobile tracking?

The article i read is about Google's Latitude. Latitude is a news and communication tools that is able to provide more relevant information to you by recognizing where you are. Also it allows your location to be tracked and you to track others location. Currently I have somewhat neutral opinions on this. I feel as if in some cases it could be really cool and helpful and in other cases it could be somewhat creepy/ stalker-ish.

On the positive side I think it's really neat how it can deliver information and news to you based on where you are located, especially if you are traveling it could be really helpful. Also I think it would be neat if you have a friend or family member that is traveling, you could track their trip. For example, one of my friends is currently on semester at sea and I think it would be really cool if I could see where she is located as they travel.

On the negative side, I know that there are privacy settings that you can set for this, but on a normal basis, I honestly don't think I would ever want anyone knowing where I am at all times. Also, some people are very naive and might let someone that they don't know very well track them, which could end up being a bad situation.

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