Big Brother is Watching You!!!!

Facebook and other social networking sites are social tools that provide: entertainment, a sense of personal identity, intimate relationships, social conversations and they can even build online communities. Generally, in order to get the most out of these sites, one needs to distribute and share information about themselves, some personal, and some general! But what about the issues of sharing too much personal information? I know when I signed on to facebook I didn't really care to think about the privacy policy statement. I had assumed that Facebook would not allow stalkers, strangers, or companies access into my PERSONAL SPACE which includes, my name, work, likes, dislikes, friends, family members, and so forth. However, as I examined some of the potential issues and risks regarding social networking sites I found SNS, like Facebook are prime agents of having third parties invade my privacy. From a report by Nicole S. Cohen called " The Valorization of Surveillance: Towards a political economy of Facebook", (it's really interesting by the way) it describes how the government and state can have access to your account, if legally required. Fair enough, I guess if their is reasonable grounds. However, I also found out from Cohen's article that the application "Newsfeed" on Facebook is really just another form of Survelliance for advertisors that create their own identities and scope the site, and it is also another form of surveillance for us. First I was annoyed that Facebook is being used to gain profit off of information. Second, I was a little disturbed when she suggested that WE, as users, were controlling and watching people. Unfortuantely, I agree that this particular application is a form of surveillance for people to monitor and possibly control or stalk people. For example, NewsFeed shares with all that " so and so are in a relationship", that "Joe" is attending " Jills" Party on Friday night at a particular club, or that "Bob" is attending a fundraiser. These are examples of events that normally give contact numbers, dates, times, places, people and so forth. When she argued that this application actually enhances surveillance on one another, I started thinking about the potential risks of stalkers, hackers, and strangers learning about WHO YOU ARE AND WHERE YOU GO! Not only that but they can eventually learn about your family or friends. Recently, I was contacted by some weirdo who did not even know me but wanted to add me on Facebook. I was completely confused. Why would you want to add me if we do not even have mutal friends???? It is a creepy feeling knowing that people can watch your everymove, and I never really estimated the amount of control each and everyone of us can have over other member of facebook. Is this appliction just another way for the government to manipulate our way of thinking about the acceptance of privacy policies? Is Newsfeed truly a surveillance mechanism that could actually do us wrong in the end? I feel that the use of Facebook of commodifying information and the limitless access of our personal space is a danger for the user and the user's privacy. Because of how Facebook is availble to all societies and to all communities is Facebook an agent that could possibly become a social control resource, is this a replica of " Big Brother"? I do not think people realize how much their privacy can be breached because people neglect to focus on these issues and become so wrapped up in their own little community. I really have begun to wonder if Facebook is just another tool that the Money hungry giants and authority figures have paid some guy off, to maintain their hierarchial structure over society? Mark Zuberg, the founder of Facebook has described it as "Revolutionary". Really, is Facebook revolutionary, to who? To Us, in regards to social networking and the advancement of communication and democracy? Or is it revolutionary for powerful agents of control that can watch and access your every move? Do not get me wrong, I still intend on using Facebook however, I think I am going to be a little more cautious with what I post. You never know if BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING!!