I was recently web browsing through random online news that deals with online privacy and came upon an interesting website created by someone who is not a supporter of corporate media. The website is interestingly called FUsocialmedia.com; quite creative. It was apparently started by an online social media entrepreneur and the site is now taking over his life. So much so that his wife (or x-wife) started her own tweets about how much she hates social media because it took over her life and her marriage. She even has her own Twitter account following… http://twitter.com/#!/fusocialmedia and is not a fan!
The website’s latest post discusses how Google, Twitter, Skype and Facebook recently came together to oppose a privacy bill. The privacy bill was introduced by a California State Senator and would force sites to explain privacy settings in a very clear cut way without confusion. The senator believes that social media companies trick people into sharing too much private information. The bill is called Social Networking Privacy Act SB 242 (http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/sen/sb_0201-0250/sb_242_bill_20110502_amended_sen_v98.html) and would require a notice before users hand over their personal information to a site. According to this recent news article, the bill would also grant parents the right to request photos or text be removed from any of their children’s social networking pages within 48 hours. A $10,000 fine would be issued for each violation.
To any online media user this bill sounds very logical and makes common sense, but not to social media giants. Google, Twitter, Skype and Facebook claim that this bill would damage business for the California technology sector by raising costs and heavily limiting growth potential of social networking sites, as well as violate the Constitution based on freedom of speech rights.
If you ask me, these social media giants are trying to protect themselves from something that should have already been approved into action.
