Wake Up to How You Share on the Web

People of Earth: there is no need to panic. Facebook changed it’s terms of service recently. Yes, that’s true. But what it suggests is that most folks don’t really know what they’ve signed on for when using a free service out on the web.

They own your content. No matter what you feel, if you’ve put it on their servers, it’s in their possession. The only way it’s ever otherwise is if the terms say so. Banks own your records. Your health insurance company owns your records. You own nothing. (The effects of this are sometimes talked about by the VRM folks.)

What Facebook is saying, and they have to, is that they have to own your stuff, because if Facebook Connect and other services are going to make your data ubiquitous and shared and spread all around like peanut butter, then they have to have the rights to republish and distribute it. (I might have this a bit wrong. I’m willing to be a bit wrong.)

In Facebook, you surrender your personal data (tons more than you think) every time you add an application to your page. You give up lots in the old terms of service (TOS).

The only thing that I saw had changed was that your content doesn’t die when you quit the service. That’s it. You’ve been giving this all up ahead of time.

My only wish was that Facebook gave you some kind of “get out now” grace to get your stuff offline before that change in the TOS was enforced.

But think about it: every service you use on the web owns your data to some degree. Read the TOS for Google Docs. Read the terms at most sites.

If you’re freaked out by Facebook, go back and take a serious look at ALL the places you’re using on the web and ask yourself what the impact of them owning your stuff really is. It’s not what you think. It’s either worse or a non-issue, depending on how you see things.

**Update: See also this post by OM about telcos selling your data for pennies.**

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http://www.truenature.com Jeff Korhan

You can’t have it both ways. We want our message to be viral, yet we want to own it too. Sorry folks, it doesn’t work that way. If you want to own your content, get a website that nobody will read. If you want to communicate – let it go!
http://www.truenature.com Jeff Korhan

You can’t have it both ways. We want our message to be viral, yet we want to own it too. Sorry folks, it doesn’t work that way. If you want to own your content, get a website that nobody will read. If you want to communicate – let it go!
http://www.tumblemoose.com Tumblemoose

OK, this is me backing out of panic mode.

Thanks for being the voice of reason.

George
http://www.tumblemoose.com Tumblemoose

OK, this is me backing out of panic mode.

Thanks for being the voice of reason.

George
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http://TheSplinteredMind.blogspot.com Douglas Cootey

Andrew,
While I agree with almost all of your points, and truly stand on your side of this issue, I need to correct you on one aspect. Facebook is claiming a global license over your content, not ownership. In real life, this will not amount to much of a distinction, but it is an important one. You still own your content, but by using FB you give them the rights to use your content cart blanche forever.

I believe this makes the TOS more insidious. By granting themselves such a wide license they can enjoy the benefits of ownership of your content without the messy legal ramifications of claiming ownership of your content. They can have the best of both worlds: using your IP when it suits them and disowning it when it does not.
http://TheSplinteredMind.blogspot.com Douglas Cootey

Andrew,
While I agree with almost all of your points, and truly stand on your side of this issue, I need to correct you on one aspect. Facebook is claiming a global license over your content, not ownership. In real life, this will not amount to much of a distinction, but it is an important one. You still own your content, but by using FB you give them the rights to use your content cart blanche forever.

I believe this makes the TOS more insidious. By granting themselves such a wide license they can enjoy the benefits of ownership of your content without the messy legal ramifications of claiming ownership of your content. They can have the best of both worlds: using your IP when it suits them and disowning it when it does not.
http://TheSplinteredMind.blogspot.com Douglas Cootey

There’s a lot of panic out there. A lot of anger. Stepping outside of the storm for a bit, what’s a creative to do? I’ve still been thinking about this as I start my day.

You want to build a brand using socnets. You want to spread the word about your books. You need to write about your content in order to get people interested. FB doesn’t own your content; they just maintain a license to use it as they see fit. Putting aside their ham-fisted and discourteous implementation, does anything really change here?

The debate seems to boil down to two sides: those that trust FB and those that don’t. The ones that trust, see this as business as usual and the price one pays to get larger exposure for their blog, service, IP, etc. The ones that don’t trust FB generally see this as a creepily ominous powergrab to lay claim on their content without their consent. They are troubled by a TOS that can change on a whim. What if FB decides to own your content over another weekend in the future? What if they assume you agree to this by the fact you logged in to see what yours peers were up to? Paranoid delusions? Are you sure?

Personally, I have decided to continue using FB for the moment, but to severely reconsider the amount of information I post there. I release my blog content under a Creative Commons license anyway, preventing only altering and monetization of my content, so giving FB a license to use my content is fine as long as they give attribution. I probably will keep pictures I post only of public events going forward, however. FB can do what they like with my status reports. I’m thinking of a spicy one to post for them right now.
http://TheSplinteredMind.blogspot.com Douglas Cootey

There’s a lot of panic out there. A lot of anger. Stepping outside of the storm for a bit, what’s a creative to do? I’ve still been thinking about this as I start my day.

You want to build a brand using socnets. You want to spread the word about your books. You need to write about your content in order to get people interested. FB doesn’t own your content; they just maintain a license to use it as they see fit. Putting aside their ham-fisted and discourteous implementation, does anything really change here?

The debate seems to boil down to two sides: those that trust FB and those that don’t. The ones that trust, see this as business as usual and the price one pays to get larger exposure for their blog, service, IP, etc. The ones that don’t trust FB generally see this as a creepily ominous powergrab to lay claim on their content without their consent. They are troubled by a TOS that can change on a whim. What if FB decides to own your content over another weekend in the future? What if they assume you agree to this by the fact you logged in to see what yours peers were up to? Paranoid delusions? Are you sure?

Personally, I have decided to continue using FB for the moment, but to severely reconsider the amount of information I post there. I release my blog content under a Creative Commons license anyway, preventing only altering and monetization of my content, so giving FB a license to use my content is fine as long as they give attribution. I probably will keep pictures I post only of public events going forward, however. FB can do what they like with my status reports. I’m thinking of a spicy one to post for them right now.
http://writing4life.com Sandra Lee Schubert

I don’t know where to begin. It seems people belong to better and ethical services then I do. Google seems to feel they own my content. When I was on Ustream yesterday and we mentioned taxes in the chat room within seconds a tax ad showed up. Whoa who is listening in the chat and what happens to that info? When I decided to use my name instead a “user name” I did a search first to see what showed up. There was info out there from mentions in a company newsletter, church sites, friends blogs, photos and companies that had access to my home address etc. As a rule I keep a PO Box, a generic phone number for all public content. I do google alerts and discover my articles from years ago show up in the oddest places.
While I agree FB could have been a little more upfront about this I do think the outcry will have them change their minds. I saw FB mentioned on three shows this morning. in a two hour period.
I continue to write everything on my computer first and then post online. But when my articles end up being mentioned in a newspaper in another content then I am happy for the exposure.
http://writing4life.com Sandra Lee Schubert

I don’t know where to begin. It seems people belong to better and ethical services then I do. Google seems to feel they own my content. When I was on Ustream yesterday and we mentioned taxes in the chat room within seconds a tax ad showed up. Whoa who is listening in the chat and what happens to that info? When I decided to use my name instead a “user name” I did a search first to see what showed up. There was info out there from mentions in a company newsletter, church sites, friends blogs, photos and companies that had access to my home address etc. As a rule I keep a PO Box, a generic phone number for all public content. I do google alerts and discover my articles from years ago show up in the oddest places.
While I agree FB could have been a little more upfront about this I do think the outcry will have them change their minds. I saw FB mentioned on three shows this morning. in a two hour period.
I continue to write everything on my computer first and then post online. But when my articles end up being mentioned in a newspaper in another content then I am happy for the exposure.
http://www.invesp.com/blog/ Rachel Burkot

Personally, I don’t see the big deal about the internet owning your content once you submit it to them. I think it’s kind of obvious that when you put it on THEIR site, they’re going to own it. My question is how this meshes with copyright laws. In America, once you write something, it is copyrighted as yours. Does this not apply to social networking sites? Or is it only yours until you surrender it to a grander realm (AKA the internet)?
http://www.invesp.com/blog/ Rachel Burkot

Personally, I don’t see the big deal about the internet owning your content once you submit it to them. I think it’s kind of obvious that when you put it on THEIR site, they’re going to own it. My question is how this meshes with copyright laws. In America, once you write something, it is copyrighted as yours. Does this not apply to social networking sites? Or is it only yours until you surrender it to a grander realm (AKA the internet)?
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http://donotreadthisblogunless.blogspot.com/ Nicholas Chase

Chris,

The “value” of my content on Facebook is nil. The contacts I have made there are the “precious jewels” of the paradigm. When I first share with others, the benefits are long-lasting and repeatable.

I have other ways to contact my ‘Facebook friends’, and the content on my blogs stays on my blogs. Facebook should be commended for revealing this policy-shift, and rather than be alarmed by the information I am consoled by the fact that nothing has really changed for me with this TOS clarification.

If the purpose of Facebook is to ‘get something’ from someone else, why not offer something of value first? By giving away from myself, I have always seen the inverse occur, I usually receive something of far greater value over time.

Respectfully,

Nicholas Chase
http://www.twitter.com/nachase
http://donotreadthisblogunless.blogspot.com/ Nicholas Chase

Chris,

The “value” of my content on Facebook is nil. The contacts I have made there are the “precious jewels” of the paradigm. When I first share with others, the benefits are long-lasting and repeatable.

I have other ways to contact my ‘Facebook friends’, and the content on my blogs stays on my blogs. Facebook should be commended for revealing this policy-shift, and rather than be alarmed by the information I am consoled by the fact that nothing has really changed for me with this TOS clarification.

If the purpose of Facebook is to ‘get something’ from someone else, why not offer something of value first? By giving away from myself, I have always seen the inverse occur, I usually receive something of far greater value over time.

Respectfully,

Nicholas Chase
http://www.twitter.com/nachase
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http://www.madalynsblog.com Madalyn Sklar

Great post, Chris! I’m amazed there is so much negativity floating around this topic. You are spot on about how people don’t pay attention to what they sign up for. But like anything else, they can choose not to use these services. I for one embrace them. The positive far outweighs the negative for me.

@madalynsklar
http://www.madalynsblog.com Madalyn Sklar

Great post, Chris! I’m amazed there is so much negativity floating around this topic. You are spot on about how people don’t pay attention to what they sign up for. But like anything else, they can choose not to use these services. I for one embrace them. The positive far outweighs the negative for me.

@madalynsklar
http://www.suziwackerbarth.wordpress.com suzi w.

The way I explained it to a friend on Twitter: If you send a picture to Lily, and you leave FB, the picture you sent to Lily still stays with her. If you keep everything private, FB has no jurisdiction to share it, whether you stay or leave. I thought Mark Z.’s blog at the end of the day was lucid in explaining why the TOS wording was not so lucid. The sky is NOT falling.

xo,
Suzi
http://www.suziwackerbarth.wordpress.com suzi w.

The way I explained it to a friend on Twitter: If you send a picture to Lily, and you leave FB, the picture you sent to Lily still stays with her. If you keep everything private, FB has no jurisdiction to share it, whether you stay or leave. I thought Mark Z.’s blog at the end of the day was lucid in explaining why the TOS wording was not so lucid. The sky is NOT falling.

xo,
Suzi
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http://onemindtalking.blogspot.com Iluska Ikeda

It’s true that we are giving up a lot of information everywhre on the web, but the idea of the content not dying after we leave, that’s what spooked me. I’ve been reflecting on this, and no content ever dies completely. People download it and individually redistribute it. In a space like Facebook, you don’t know how many people you’ve given access to content who will keep it for their own purposes. So in a way, even with the old TOS (which are now back) your content doesn’t die when you leave. Still, for the site to do it in a systematic fashion, and make it a condition to participate goes one step further. Probably, that’s the way that things will go eventually. We have to think of the web now as the place where we self-publish and that includes any kind of content. So if you put it up, you will have to be aware it’s there for good. We have to do a better job of self-editing what we publish.
http://onemindtalking.blogspot.com Iluska Ikeda

It’s true that we are giving up a lot of information everywhre on the web, but the idea of the content not dying after we leave, that’s what spooked me. I’ve been reflecting on this, and no content ever dies completely. People download it and individually redistribute it. In a space like Facebook, you don’t know how many people you’ve given access to content who will keep it for their own purposes. So in a way, even with the old TOS (which are now back) your content doesn’t die when you leave. Still, for the site to do it in a systematic fashion, and make it a condition to participate goes one step further. Probably, that’s the way that things will go eventually. We have to think of the web now as the place where we self-publish and that includes any kind of content. So if you put it up, you will have to be aware it’s there for good. We have to do a better job of self-editing what we publish.
http://www.marketleveragetv.com MLDina

It’s a scary thought, but it’s true. You have to be careful what kind of personal information you give out on the web, or anywhere, for that matter. I’m reminded every time I have to check one of those boxes with the tiny, tiny text, or with a guidebook, map, and compass to get you through the terms page.
http://www.marketleveragetv.com MLDina

It’s a scary thought, but it’s true. You have to be careful what kind of personal information you give out on the web, or anywhere, for that matter. I’m reminded every time I have to check one of those boxes with the tiny, tiny text, or with a guidebook, map, and compass to get you through the terms page.
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http://allwireduptoo.blogspot.com Dee Hausker

I think that Facebook didn’t take into consideration language. What they posted and what their intent was not cohesive.
Unfortunately for how Facebook sees privacy issues if someone closes their account and their cotent stays on someone elses page….
http://allwireduptoo.blogspot.com Dee Hausker

I think that Facebook didn’t take into consideration language. What they posted and what their intent was not cohesive.
Unfortunately for how Facebook sees privacy issues if someone closes their account and their cotent stays on someone elses page….
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http://www.tonido.com rivercity

Social networking sites are like banks. They create value only if people create content or deposit money (in case of banks). If the service provider sabotages customersâ€™ trust, I donâ€™t see a sustainable future for that particular business. Just posted my views on this episode here: Facebook, Sixth most populous kingdom on earth
http://www.tonido.com rivercity

Social networking sites are like banks. They create value only if people create content or deposit money (in case of banks). If the service provider sabotages customersâ€™ trust, I donâ€™t see a sustainable future for that particular business. Just posted my views on this episode here: Facebook, Sixth most populous kingdom on earth
http://www.coffeerama.com coffee

Sadly, most people would not have looked closely enough to notice the change in Facebook’s Terms of Service… looks them social networkers are doing a good job of looking out for each other
http://www.coffeerama.com coffee

Sadly, most people would not have looked closely enough to notice the change in Facebook’s Terms of Service… looks them social networkers are doing a good job of looking out for each other
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http://makethewebwork4you.blogspot.com/2008/12/facebook-friends-forever.html MickG

Great Post Chris. I’m a bit of a Facebook Heretic. Not REALLY my cuppa tea.
As my blog post – Facebook Friends Forever describes ……

“I pretty much hate Facebook. I find it a pretty impersonal and voyeuristic way to communicate. After years though of ignoring it – I finally spent a few days playing with it – and had these 7 thoughts.

1. I’m astounded how my circle of friends from diverse backgrounds/ starting points have cross-pollinated. Friends from school are now friends with fellow student friends from Uni. And vice-versa! Perhaps it’s just the common starting point of all living together in one place for a period of time. The old Hometown Factor.

2. There is an incredible amount of flippant / surface banter – without a huge amount of real communication.

3. The photos people post are normally pretty arbitary. And sometimes just weird. Most without labels – so it’s difficult to understand their context or background.

4. I’m nervous as hell about what I write to others – knowing that each and every mutual ‘friend’ visiting the page thereafter can read it. Sort of like a massive global school-yard – where everyone knows everything. And therefore no-one says anything – but everyone still knows! …..
http://makethewebwork4you.blogspot.com/2008/12/facebook-friends-forever.html MickG

Great Post Chris. I’m a bit of a Facebook Heretic. Not REALLY my cuppa tea.
As my blog post – Facebook Friends Forever describes ……

“I pretty much hate Facebook. I find it a pretty impersonal and voyeuristic way to communicate. After years though of ignoring it – I finally spent a few days playing with it – and had these 7 thoughts.

1. I’m astounded how my circle of friends from diverse backgrounds/ starting points have cross-pollinated. Friends from school are now friends with fellow student friends from Uni. And vice-versa! Perhaps it’s just the common starting point of all living together in one place for a period of time. The old Hometown Factor.

2. There is an incredible amount of flippant / surface banter – without a huge amount of real communication.

3. The photos people post are normally pretty arbitary. And sometimes just weird. Most without labels – so it’s difficult to understand their context or background.

4. I’m nervous as hell about what I write to others – knowing that each and every mutual ‘friend’ visiting the page thereafter can read it. Sort of like a massive global school-yard – where everyone knows everything. And therefore no-one says anything – but everyone still knows! …..
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Thats because your anxious to get on to facebook and be dramatic with your friends.
Maybe a bold print on stuff like this would be a good idea, in my eyes it don't really matter anyway because unless you got a good lawyer anybody can take your goods online.
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