Facebook Terms of Use Review

Facebook recently reviewed its Terms of Use, which brought about arguement and disagreement from the community. The dissent from around the web has made Facebook revert to its old terms. Well, this could be said to be the power of community.

The new term said thus:

“You hereby grant Facebook an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid, worldwide license (with the right to sublicense) to (a) use, copy, publish, stream, store, retain, publicly perform or display, transmit, scan, reformat, modify, edit, frame, translate, excerpt, adapt, create derivative works and distribute (through multiple tiers), any User Content you (i) Post on or in connection with the Facebook Service or the promotion thereof subject only to your privacy settings or (ii) enable a user to Post, including by offering a Share Link on your website and (b) to use your name, likeness and image for any purpose, including commercial or advertising, each of (a) and (b) on or in connection with the Facebook Service or the promotion thereof. You represent and warrant that you have all rights and permissions to grant the foregoing licenses.”

The old term (now current) says :

By posting User Content to any part of the Site, you automatically grant, and you represent and warrant that you have the right to grant, to the Company an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid, worldwide license (with the right to sublicense) to use, copy, publicly perform, publicly display, reformat, translate, excerpt (in whole or in part) and distribute such User Content for any purpose on or in connection with the Site or the promotion thereof, to prepare derivative works of, or incorporate into other works, such User Content, and to grant and authorize sublicenses of the foregoing. You may remove your User Content from the Site at any time. If you choose to remove your User Content, the license granted above will automatically expire, however you acknowledge that the Company may retain archived copies of your User Content.

The wording I think is too formal and could make a lot of people confused translation to give it. Facebook Founder, Mark Zuckerberg wrote two blog posts here and here to clearify their stand on the issue and He has promised to keep the Trust that people have for Facebook. You can also join the Facebook Bill of Rights and Responsibilities

Many people rarely read the term of use, when they get freaky about any website they just click on. Some argued that Facebook is surpose to alert users of its new terms but, Facebook stated clearly that it’s the users’ responsibility to always check the terms for update. But, surprisingly, I got alerted on my Facebook page about the revert to old term. Good! But kind of late.

People have trust in Facebook, and that has to a large extent made it the largest Social Networking site on the internet. Obviously, Facebook is bigger than some major countries, about 175 millions user would have made it sixth biggest Country had it been a Nation state.

Next time you visit, any site, read through its Term of Use. It is the guiding principle to what the company can do to your data and how you can protect yourself.

Do you have any issue understanding term of use? Drop comment below.

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Facebook knocks down myspace, hijacks 22% of World Internet users

It is astonishing to see the way Facebook has grown in the last six month. As at January 2008, Myspace was 19 million users more than Facebook , but by the end of 2008 (December) Facebook grew added 100 million users more than Myspace.  Unbelievable you would say! I guess Mark wouldn’t have predicted this growth.

Facebook stands currently at about 150 million active users. As at December 2008, Facebook drew about 22% internet audience. That translates to about 1 – 5 people on the internet goes to Facebook.

Myspace, launched just a month before Facebook, is said to be earning more than times 3 of Facebook earnings. People have argued over and over about Facebook monetization given the number of users it currently commands. I think Facebook is more of focusing on user generation and confidence to improve its strategies.

Facebook has really carved the top stop and remain still. Business and groups are using it more than ever before. Tell me, if you have opportunity to reach 150 million people to present your product won’t you be happy? That is what Facebook has effectively done!

Given the economic downturn worldwide, online advertisement and social medial remains most cost effective way to get your products and services accros to the people.

Nigerian social networking site should be more innovative in their service given the extent to which this niche can grow in a short while. Nigeria is still a virgin country and whoever is innovative will carry the day.

What is your view? Do you think Nigerian Social Networking site are try? Can they do something better? Share your comment.

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