ZOMG! My data!

When Facebook changed their TOS (Terms Of Service) this month, the tech community was up in arms. The new TOS states that even after you delete your account from Facebook, the data that you inputted into the service is retained on their end. Why? What are they going to do with the data? And isn't that data yours!?

Well, I'm not so sure. Now, before I move on, let me just state that Mark Zuckerberg has always been present and accessible to Facebook's users. When the redesign came out, it wasn't before sharing the changes and ideas with users months ahead of time, and taking user feedback. Granted, most folks weren't ecstatic about the changes, and Zuck didn't bend to every whim of the users, but Facebook was available and listening with open ears and minds.

Yesterday, Zuck came out and commented on the changed to the TOS. He made a very simple, clear, comparison:

"When a person shares something like a message with a friend, two copies of that information are created—one in the person's sent messages box and the other in their friend's inbox. Even if the person deactivates their account, their friend still has a copy of that message. We think this is the right way for Facebook to work, and it is consistent with how other services like email work. One of the reasons we updated our terms was to make this more clear."

I get it. This makes sense to me. So, with that in mind, why would you put something on Facebook that you're worried about getting out? It's on the fricking internet. That is a bad idea. I don't have anything on Facebook that I would be worried about being seen or having multiple copies that exist elsewhere of. But alright, that's not what you're worried about, is it? No, I get that too, though.

You don't want Facebook to have all your personal information even after you think you've 'deleted' it because you don't want them to give it away. For example, your email address. You don't want Facebook to turn around and sell your email address along with thousands of others to some spam company for lots of cash. Okay, I get that. But, to be honest, I'm not that worried. Facebook is huge. Do they need to turn to peddling personal information? I don't think so. They've grown exponentially in the past two years, and they're still going.

All in all, yes. I'm with you. It's weird. If I delete my account, I feel like it should be deleted. But, like Zuck said. When you delete a sent email from your computer, does it delete the receive one from who you sent it to? I think at the end of the day, the best thing you can do is simply not put anything you don't want given to anyone else in a public forum. If you don't want people to have your cell phone number, don't give it out. If you don't want people to have your email address, don't give it out.

"But Facebook requires and email address to sign up!", you say.

Fine. So, do as I do. Create a separate email address devoted specifically to signing up for things. That way, none of your personal conversations are at risk. Don't be stupid. Essentially, what it boils down to is the very same notion that applies to all of social media. Transparency. Are you on Twitter? If you are, that's opt in. You don't have to tweet every waking moment. You don't have to tweet that you just lost your job, or that your girlfriend just broke up with you. You choose what information you give away. Be smart.

if you're not happy with Facebook, don't use it. But the reality of it is, Facebook is in the position already to be able to make changes like this. Remember what happened with beacon? People went ballistic. People created groups (on Facebook) to organize against these practices. But you know what? That was a year ago, and since then Facebook has reached 175 million active users.* Fine, let them know what you think, but when it comes down to it, it's your choice wether or not you want to give them your information/data/soul, what have you. In fact, it's up to you is you even use the site at all which I, for the record, am happily going to continue to use.

*See references