Facebook: We're taking suggestions for policy changes
Facebook wants your feedback.
Facebook announced Thursday that all significant policy changes will now be subject to comment from members, and put to a popular vote if the changes are controversial.
The popular networking site is backtracking amidst a wave of negative feedback after users interpreted a recent terms of service update to mean Facebook owned all user content forever.
A "Facebook Town Hall: Proposed Facebook Principles" group has been created by site administrators to solicit feedback from members.
The principles are a set of "foundational elements for how we want to govern the site," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg told the New York Times.
For the next month, users will be able to propose, post and argue on these principles on a site accessible through the group.
"If we are trying to move the world to being more open and transparent and to get people to share more information, having an open process around this is ultimately the only way to do that," Zuckerberg said.
Facebook made the changes to its terms of service on Feb. 6, but they were thrust into the media spotlight by a blog called The Consumerist.
The news set off a flurry of negative feedback, including protest groups. Facebook officials tried to clarify the matter, saying the blog misinterpreted the terms.
Zuckerberg tried to reassure on a blog post that users that they still owned and controlled their own content and that the company wouldn't to use it without their permission.
Sault Ste. Marie senior Bob Sawruk said he thinks the changes are a good idea.
"I suggest that they get rid of the News Feed," he said. "I don't really care if Brad and Jen broke up. I think it gives to much insight into people's personal life."
Williamston freshman Mike Vincent also thought that they shouldn't be able to keep users personal information.
"I definitely don't think that they should keep anyone's information," he said. "I think it's good that they're letting people vote on things. It's just kind of a weird subject."
studentlife@cm-life.com
