New Facebook feed disturbs many
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 09/07/2006
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With the addition of a new Facebook feature, more than a few Purdue students are upset and concerned about their online privacy, calling the addition unnecessary. As of Wednesday night, more than 400,000 users have joined one online petition group against the "News Feed."
"I think it means Facebook is now creepier than it already is," said Jenny Easterday, a sophomore in the College of Liberal Arts. "But now that it's like this, I've considered getting off it."
Easterday is referring to the new feature that allows users to log in and instantly see recent profile changes with their friends. The feature appears on the main home page and lists items such as friends' new photos, new boyfriends or recent breakups.
Dan Heacock, a junior in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, said his roommate created a fake breakup with his girlfriend online. Heacock said friends were calling him to see what was going on.
"I think it's getting a little bit out of hand," he said. "You shouldn't be able to track people and see what they're doing."
Heacock said Facebook should stop trying to do new things because he thinks the Web site is already popular enough.
Six out of six students interviewed for this article agreed that the News Feed is indeed "creepy."
But according to Capt. John Cox of the Purdue Police Department, the new layout is a reminder to keep personal information personal.
"Students need to be aware that once you put something out on the net, you don't get it out," said Cox. "Use common sense, don't put (information) out there. Those types of things can come up two to five years down the road."
Facebook's Web site advised "Unless you're prepared to attach something in your profile to a resume or scholarship application, don't post it."
Although Jackie Cassidy strictly limits the information disseminated by her profile, she said the News Feed has its good and bad sides.
"It's kind of easy; you don't have to look to see what people have updated," said Cassidy, a freshman in the College of Consumer and Family Sciences.
She said it saves time but still thinks it is a feature that the Purdue Facebook community could forgo.