The two faces of Facebook

I just finished the Web 2.0 exercise on Facebook. I had already created an account a couple of years back when the Ottawa Public Library started theirs and generated a bit of publicity. It seemed like a good idea at the time and probably still is. I've read about the benefits of this form of social networking and it looks like great means of communication for organizations such as the library.

When it comes to the personal and privacy issues of Facebook, that's when I slam on the brakes.

While I have heard a fair bit about the effort that Facebook makes to protect your privacy, I have read a lot about the dangers of putting your personal life online. Moreover, and this gives me the willies, your personal content is the property of Facebook and you cannot completely delete it. The latter part is similar to mailing a letter or E-mail you cannot retrieve or saying something you can't take back. The first part is a new twist to me and a disturbing one. If you screw up, Facebook owns and keeps the screw-up.

Also, many libraries have a policy in which most of the staff do not have to reveal their full name to the clientelle and unless you're a manager or a higher-up, you are discouraged from doing so. No problem there. And yet, if you're listed on Facebook as associated with that library as staff, and have a full profile, you are essentially exposed to a lot more people, and not just patrons of the library. The Ottawa Citizen has recently published an article online about the privacy issues surrounding Facebook, and it's the latest in a long list of articles addressing the dangers of personal pages.

To be fair, a lot of people bring this on themselves. They don't use the privacy controls available on these sites and put stuff on their pages that would qualify in most professional and social circles as "waaayyy too much information" (probably like this blog entry). Here's another link to an article that gives more detail on the subject.

On the balance, Facebook and similar services are a great way to make yourself known in the virtual and real world and potentially an excellent tool to reach individuals of similar interests and professions beyond a person's "pre-web" options. Just bear in mind that while Google's unofficial slogan is "Don't be evil", a slogan for social networking on Web 2.0 should read "Don't be careless."

-- Greg @ the library