You? Me? My dog?
Okay, Facebook doesn't technically own any of us. If we want to get philosophical, we can say nobody really owns anything. We can even look at the meaning of ownership, and what it really means to own or be owned. But don't worry, we won't delve that deep into our metaphysical reality.
As it stands currently, under the current privacy policy, Facebook calls itself "...not just a website ... It is also a service for sharing your information on Facebook-enhanced applications and websites." Facebook gives its users the power to control how the information is shared through the application settings. And, at first glance, this could mean that the users own the information presented on the website; however, some think this isn't the case.
As of February 4th, 2009, Facebook installed a new Terms of Service. In this new TOS, Facebook removed the guarantee that any deleted content will be deleted forever. Or, in the words of Chris Walters of The Consumerist, "[Facebook] Can Do Anything We Want With Your Content. Forever." Shortly after the release of those TOS were released to the public, users became upset and Facebook chose to revert back to its old TOS. As it stands currently, Facbook insists that "You own all of the content and information you post on Facebook, and you can control how it is shared through your privacy and application settings." I believe this is the way it should be.
I see Facebook as a platform to socialize, upload and share memories and experiences through digital content. Whatever users post should be seen as users' property both in a legal sense and ethical sense. If this trust between platform and user is breached, it could mean the end (or the steep decline) of Facebook's popularity.
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