Facebook Beacon: Cool Feature or an Invasion of Privacy?
Facebook launched Beacon, “a new and innovative approach to advertising” (O’Rourke, 2013, p 215) on November 6, 2007. This software has the ability to post a user’s online purchases to their Facebook pages, in essence creating advertising directed to their network of friends for the products purchased. By November 19, 2007 the group MoveOn, a political and civic organization, started a public campaign in an effort to stop Beacon citing it as an invasion of privacy issue. Users also formed the group, “Petition: Facebook, stop invading my privacy” (O’Rourke, 2013, p 215) in an effort to force Facebook to discontinue using this software. The development and use of controversial software is not new to Facebook, in 2006, only one year prior they received negative feedback when they launched the News Feed and Mini-Feed features (O’Rourke, 2013).
Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook on February 4, 2004, out of his university dorm room. “The online social networking site became an instant hit at Harvard within the first few weeks (O 'Rourke, 2013, p 215). It quickly spread to other college campuses across the nation. Facebook’s competitive advantage was essentially having a closed community, thereby facilitating a user’s privacy. The users have the ability to decide who could see their information, instead of the posts being public and allowing everyone to view them. Facebook spread nationwide and opened a real office in
Facebook launched Beacon, “a new and innovative approach to advertising” (O’Rourke, 2013, p 215) on November 6, 2007. This software has the ability to post a user’s online purchases to their Facebook pages, in essence creating advertising directed to their network of friends for the products purchased. By November 19, 2007 the group MoveOn, a political and civic organization, started a public campaign in an effort to stop Beacon citing it as an invasion of privacy issue. Users also formed the group, “Petition: Facebook, stop invading my privacy” (O’Rourke, 2013, p 215) in an effort to force Facebook to discontinue using this software. The development and use of controversial software is not new to Facebook, in 2006, only one year prior they received negative feedback when they launched the News Feed and Mini-Feed features (O’Rourke, 2013).
Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook on February 4, 2004, out of his university dorm room. “The online social networking site became an instant hit at Harvard within the first few weeks (O 'Rourke, 2013, p 215). It quickly spread to other college campuses across the nation. Facebook’s competitive advantage was essentially having a closed community, thereby facilitating a user’s privacy. The users have the ability to decide who could see their information, instead of the posts being public and allowing everyone to view them. Facebook spread nationwide and opened a real office in