Facebook's About-Face
By ANDREW GREINER
Updated 12:08 PM EST, Sun, Jul 12, 2009
Facebook is ... relenting.
The giant social networking site caused quite a stir this week when it was reavealed that a change in their terms of use agreement gave them rights to all user generated content, forever.
Well, late last night a message went out to all users reversing that change. It said:
Over the past few days, we have received a lot of feedback about the new terms we posted two weeks ago. Because of this response, we have decided to return to our previous Terms of Use while we resolve the issues that people have raised.
After much conversation, the developers at Facebook sent out a poll to the sites users asking them if they agreed with the change in Terms of Service. Not surprisingly, 56 percent said they opposed the change. The number probably would have been higher but, like many so many other Facebook applications, about 38 percent of those who recieved the question ignored it. Only 6 percent agreed with the change.
This reversal came after Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg issued a statement on the site's main blog on Monday defending the initial switch.
"One of the questions about our new terms of use is whether Facebook can use this information forever. ... In reality, we wouldn't share your information in a way you wouldn't want. The trust you place in us as a safe place to share information is the most important part of what makes Facebook work. Our goal is to build great products and to communicate clearly to
help people share more information in this trusted environment."
Probably the most important Facebook change to come out of this social networking crisis is that a Facebook Bill of Rights and Responsibilities group has been established, and users are encouraged to go there and complain to thier heart's content. But, if you're one of those people who complains, please, make sure you spell everything correctly, becausee word is that what goes happens on Facebook stays on Facebook.
First Published: Feb 18, 2009 3:43 AM EST
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