2008 Woodie Awards
Facebook.com 'News Feed', 'Mini Feed' Function Worries Students
Kathleen Bulson
Issue date: 9/20/06 Section: News
He notes the potential for stalking saying that "whenever people put up information anyone can read it and react it to it." Friedenberg says "the internet is a vehicle of disseminating information" and the responsibility lies with both the person posting and the reader to make cognizant choices.
Almost immediately upon discovering the new features, students nationwide formed groups via facebook.com to show their dislike for the new functions. Group goals varied from advocating change to denouncing the "new Facebook" to simply stating one's hatred for the features. "Remove News Feed Now!" is one group listing its type as an advocacy organization. It states "Our mission is simple: Force the Man to remove the News Feed feature and restore Facebook to its former glory!" Over 7,500 members joined the group "I Hate The New Facebook! Change It Back."
More drastic measures were taken by some students. An online petition was created via facebook.com. UCSC members made an attempt to boycott the website by forming a group telling others to disable their profiles on Sept. 12.
Within a week of the changes, facebook.com creator Mark Zuckerberg left a letter to all members on the website's homepage announcing its errors and responding to members' concerns over privacy. "We really messed this one up," Zuckerberg said. "When we launched News Feed and Mini-Feed we were trying to provide you with a stream of information about your social world."
"Instead, we did a bad job of explaining what the new features were and an even worse job of giving you control of them. I'd like to try to correct those errors now," he continued.
The Facebook team added new controls allowing members to decide which stories if any would be published about them and whether or not to include the times it happen. One can also now remove individual stories from the mini-feed section.
The new layout on the homepage still announces each detail as long as members want them to, leaving many unsatisfied with the new layout. Others still feel the announcements are needless.
Manhattan sophomore, Michelle Westby, said "I don't mind it showing you updated profiles, but not to this degree." She continued, "I understand you want to stay connected with your friends, but there are some things you can ask [in person]".
In addition to the privacy controls, the facebook.com team also listed what they could and couldn't do with people's privacy. Stories are not published about whom you "poke," message, delete, reject, or whose profile you view. News feed will note when you add or tag photos, status updates, and write notes.
Lastly, Zuckerberg announced the creation of a group called Free Flow of Information on the Internet promoting ties between members and the Facebook team.
Almost immediately upon discovering the new features, students nationwide formed groups via facebook.com to show their dislike for the new functions. Group goals varied from advocating change to denouncing the "new Facebook" to simply stating one's hatred for the features. "Remove News Feed Now!" is one group listing its type as an advocacy organization. It states "Our mission is simple: Force the Man to remove the News Feed feature and restore Facebook to its former glory!" Over 7,500 members joined the group "I Hate The New Facebook! Change It Back."
More drastic measures were taken by some students. An online petition was created via facebook.com. UCSC members made an attempt to boycott the website by forming a group telling others to disable their profiles on Sept. 12.
Within a week of the changes, facebook.com creator Mark Zuckerberg left a letter to all members on the website's homepage announcing its errors and responding to members' concerns over privacy. "We really messed this one up," Zuckerberg said. "When we launched News Feed and Mini-Feed we were trying to provide you with a stream of information about your social world."
"Instead, we did a bad job of explaining what the new features were and an even worse job of giving you control of them. I'd like to try to correct those errors now," he continued.
The Facebook team added new controls allowing members to decide which stories if any would be published about them and whether or not to include the times it happen. One can also now remove individual stories from the mini-feed section.
The new layout on the homepage still announces each detail as long as members want them to, leaving many unsatisfied with the new layout. Others still feel the announcements are needless.
Manhattan sophomore, Michelle Westby, said "I don't mind it showing you updated profiles, but not to this degree." She continued, "I understand you want to stay connected with your friends, but there are some things you can ask [in person]".
In addition to the privacy controls, the facebook.com team also listed what they could and couldn't do with people's privacy. Stories are not published about whom you "poke," message, delete, reject, or whose profile you view. News feed will note when you add or tag photos, status updates, and write notes.
Lastly, Zuckerberg announced the creation of a group called Free Flow of Information on the Internet promoting ties between members and the Facebook team.