It's a New Day: Facebook Status Updates Go Global
From its inception, Facebook has respected the privacy of its users, making it a more attractive option to those who were turned off by MySpace's garish free-for-all. Obviously, privacy advocates are going to mount a protest against this change, but, according to ReadWriteWeb, Facebook is making a concerted effort to let users know that the settings have changed. The 'Book contests that the new status function's privacy settings will mirror the individual's default settings (Those on private will remain private, and those who choose public can be seen via search engines.). But, allegedly, those kinks are still being worked out.
Simply put, it appears that Facebook is taking Twitter to task, capitalizing on the best that tweeting has to offer (accessible messages) while sticking to its original credo (privacy for those who want it). Privacy for those who want it, that is, as long as those who want it notice that precious drop-down menu -- reminding them to keep their digital blinds closed. [From: InsideFacebook and ReadWriteWeb]
Facebook Crime and Punishment
Blackmail
Sending any personal info or incriminating pictures to someone on Facebook is a huge mistake for many reasons. One of the worst possible outcomes is getting blackmailed for money, sex, or, well, anything these sickos dream up. Really, whether they're using a fake profile or not, it's a horrible idea. Read up on the story of an 18-year-old who blackmailed 31 male classmates after he posed as a girl and asked for nude pictures. That's lesson enough.
Impostors
Sure, it can be harmless to impersonate a celeb online or create a fake profile for a movie character. But seriously, there's a definite line you shouldn't cross when pretending to be someone else and it can lead to dire consequences for you. Maybe it's not as extreme as the Moroccan man who was jailed for 43 days after creating a fake Facebook profile of a prince, but you never know. Just steer clear of it.
Self-Incrimination
Do we really have to explain this? Just look up the shoplifter who posed with her stolen merchandise, the many photos of drunk underage teens, and, most recently, the album featuring a couple who killed and ate an endangered iguana in the Bahamas.
Suicide
Social networking sites has been blamed for a lot of things, fairly and unfairly, but in our opinion, the worst offense has been their indirect involvement in suicides. Obviously, there are a lot of factors responsible in each case, but there does seem to be links between social networking and a rash of suicides, and obviously tehre's the case tragic of Megan Meier, who killed herself after a classmate's mom impersonated a teen boy and harassed her over Myspace.
Murder
We've reported on numerous incidents of people getting in trouble because of their online behavior. Now, people are becoming victims because of what they're doing on the Web too. In England, a man was convicted of murdering his estranged wife after she changed her relationship status to "single." So, be careful of who can see your profile and what you're doing, no matter how harmless it seems.
Nigerian Scammers
Oh, you thought this only happened via poorly worded emails, right? WRONG. Once people got wise to their old ways, these con men are turning to social networking sites for new targets. This time, they're hacking into people's accounts and impersonating them to ask for money, usually with some weird sob story. You can check out a transcript of one of these conversations here.
Cooperation
Even if the law isn't on a case, a victim, his friends, or empathetic strangers might be. Since it's easy to get word out for anything online, people are using blogs, forums, and social networking sites to help track down criminals. In one such case, a vehicle thief was tracked down by a bunch of anonymous car enthusiasts after the victim posted his story on a forum. In the end, they identified the guy through his Facebook profile.
Self-Incrimination
Do we really have to explain this? Just look up the shoplifter who posed with her stolen merchandise, the many photos of drunk underage teens, and, most recently, the album featuring a couple who killed and ate an endangered iguana in the Bahamas.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
marshall said 5:11PM on 6-25-2009
Thanks to face book I have been found by 3 cousins an aunt and a college friend OK one of my cousins is really annoying. but thats what happens to people that move to Jersey
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Nimue said 6:27PM on 6-25-2009
Stop your crying, at leas they gave you an option. Besides facebook is great. You get to talk with your friends and family around the world and it's a great way to find old friends, you lost contact with. I love facebook.
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Jerry Bassett said 8:32PM on 6-25-2009
WHAT'S FACEBOOK?
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Margaret said 11:27PM on 6-25-2009
Facebook is great. I've been able to re-connect with so many of my classmates. Not only ones from High School but also from Elementary School as well.
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Michael said 9:58AM on 6-26-2009
I think facebook is awesome. I not only get to keep in touch with friends & family members, but I also run my business on the social network. My company http://penfishingrods.com is now global thanks to facebook, & I make new business contacts every day. You can't ask for a better connection. :)
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Carol said 1:08AM on 6-26-2009
I don't know a lot of places to post a video, can anyone help me out here. I'm of the older generation and I have a LOT of digging to put out in the world. I'll for now refer to them as pet peeves. It will be about what has happened in my world, and believe me when I say, a heck of a lot of bad things has happened in my world at the hands of others. When I say others, I'm speaking of those which run this country, lawyers, hospitals, doctor's, insurance moguls, judge's, these are those which are in charge of our lives, how we live it and whether we ever obtain justice in what has been shown to me and unjust system.More of that later. For lack of a more correct grammar, I'll use the word, Tick, so tick any one of them off, your life is then theirs, to ruin, as they see fit, or attempt to at least make it a nightmare from hell to live, and they've certainly treated mine that way, that's for sure. I've darn near been killed, that determination is yet, left to be played out as THEY see fit as well. But, I wish to invite America into my home to keep you all abreast of what is happening in my world. It is all TRUE. I'm NOT asking for pity, nor your opinion's, I'm simply putting it out there for whatever help if any, others might draw from what I've experienced. It will also comment on true events of those which are liars, theives, killers and the like. The topics span different issues and white collar crime etc. so I hope you'll tune into MY PET PEEVES, coming soon to a video site near you.
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Carol said 1:22AM on 6-26-2009
You may for now contact me on facebook as WheepingWillow2. Hope to see you soon.
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jdevil1735 said 9:28AM on 6-26-2009
I've been to 41 states and lived in 6, there are annoying people all over. I guess you have never actually been to New Jersey or perhaps you're from New York , because your comment about New Jersey is the usual ignorant comment that I hear from people who get their views from Saturday Night Live and late night talk show hosts.
For an idea of what New Jersey is really like - go to AboutNewJersey.com
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