Students question Facebook policies

When freshman Noah Skube checked his Lee Corso Facebook profile last week, there was one problem. It wasn't there.\nRecently Facebook.com, the popular social networking Web site, has come under scrutiny for deactivating fake profiles, in addition to language in its terms and conditions that allows Facebook to distribute and release any information placed in profiles. This can include a user's groups or interests, as well as pictures that friends place on the Web site. \nSkube, who created his profile in the name of one of his favorite sports analysts, said he disagreed with the decision to remove his profile.\n"It wasn't that big of a deal, and it didn't ruin my life or anything since it was more of a joke, but it just seems so petty of them," Skube said. \nWhile students like Skube seem to be puzzled by the action Facebook is taking, representatives of Facebook have been unfazed by criticism at this point.\n"It is part of Facebook's terms of agreement that users are not authorized to misrepresent themselves, which includes posing as someone else," said Chris Hughes, a spokesperson from Facebook.\n"We're not intending to be a humor site. We want to build a social directory that enables people to share information."\nWhile Facebook entertains the right to release information provided in profiles, there are types of people who Facebook will not comply with, Hughes said.\n"We reserve this right because it is an industry standard, but we do not provide our users' information to marketers or spammers," Hughes said.\nHughes also stated that he doesn't see why Facebook's image would be hurt by having this disclaimer.\nHowever, this option still leaves students like Skube troubled.\n"It's sort of disturbing," he said "I wish they made that a little more clear, but of course they wouldn't because then it might scare folks off."\nThough Facebook protects its users from marketers, there is still a possibility the information would have to be dispersed, Hughes said.\n"The only scenario in which we would be required to do so is if we were legally subpoenaed," Hughes said.\nSophomore Jon Palak, who had his profile, "a panda," deactivated, but brought it back by changing his name to Jon "a panda" Palak, said he is indifferent toward the possibility of outsiders using the information students provide. \n"I believe that the people who are at the most risk are those that are graduating and applying for jobs," Palak said. "However, if you're applying for a job for after graduation, I doubt your employer would have any issues if they saw a picture of a person drinking on a Web site that is mostly geared towards meeting new people."\nPalak also stated that businesses shouldn't care what the person does on the weekends as long as they do their job well.\n"If an employer saw my profile, they would either be confused or just disregard it completely," he said. "Well, unless my employer was also an administrator at Facebook, in which they'd turn down my application because they don't like the idea of a panda working for their company"