Quantcast The Varsity News
College Media Network

The Varsity News

Student newspaper of University of Detroit Mercy

Facebook pitfalls: updates, messaging

Alice Arutoff

Issue date: 1/21/09 Section: Opinion
  • Print
  • Email
  • Page 1 of 1
"Susan B is late for class."
"31 of your friends were tagged in an album."
"Martin Q is no longer listed as 'in a relationship.' "
"7 of your friends are attending Homecoming Day. It's hosted by UDM. So far 100 people have been invited. RSVP to this event."
Tired of Facebook informing you of the actions of your friends (or, in some cases, of random people about whom you know nothing)? I know I am.
Every time I am on Facebook it's just another list of random information that I do not care to know about friends, acquaintances or complete strangers.
Remember the good ol' days when Facebook did not intrude into our daily lives, keeping us up-to-date on people's statuses and doings on the Internet?
I know I do.
I wish we could return to the simpler Facebook, with only college students and with no news feeds.
How many relationships have been broken up by the news feed?
Nowadays, it tells everyone on whose wall you wrote and what you said, even if you delete it from your news feed. This information is at your significant other's fingertips ready to instigate a fight.
Regardless of this fact, I am just tired of Facebook being in my business.
I do not want everyone to know that I wrote on Jessica's wall, tagged a photo of John, broke up with Mark or sent a Green Patch to Kim.
Facebook has made Internet privacy non-existent.
Have you ever stopped to ponder the implications of this virtually constant updating and tagging of your life online?
Employers can easily view your life online and see if they think you're acceptable to hire. Did a friend tag you in a photo showing you drunk and doing something completely stupid? Well, with one click your not-so-future employer has made a character judgment of you based on that photo.
Facebook has made it easy for people to learn anything about you that you allow.
Another issue: Facebook stalking.
People can message you or just send you an instant Facebook message to talk to you. This makes it very difficult to keep yourself private from those whom you don't want to let in.
Trust me, if someone is not your friend, they can figure out ways to find out information about you that makes you go really? You went out of your way to find out what's going on in my life, so you can what talk to me?
NO.
Facebook used to be a handy device to find out who's in your classes and meet fellow students in a nonintrusive way.
While I know there is no use waxing nostalgic about the good times, something needs to be done. Though Facebook is full of options, its privacy options need to be improved.
No longer do I want the World Wide Web to be informed about my dealings on Facebook. I'm "not gonna take it anymore."
Page 1 of 1

Article Tools

Be the first to comment on this story

  • NOTE: Email address will not be published

Type your comment below (html not allowed)

  I understand posting spam or other comments that are unrelated to this article will cause my comment to be flagged for deletion and possibly cause my IP address to be permanently banned from this server.

Advertisement

Poll

What's the best part of the new semester?
Submit Vote

View Results

Advertisement