MySpace sells users’ data to make a few quid from a dying website’s death throes
photo credit: Sam Cockman
So, ReadWriteWeb have written a story about MySpace selling users’ personal data for paltry amounts of cash. Now we know that MySpace is a dying site that hasn’t been able to keep the momentum of Facebook or even twitter. But I must admit that even I didn’t realise just how pathetic Murdoch’s NewsCorp were and what they would be prepared to give up just to squeeze the last few pennies out of this weary old lady of a website.
It’s currently trying to make a few quid out of its death throes by selling users’ information such as status and mood updates, photos, blog posts and even names & zipcodes (I’m not sure if that includes postcodes). I’m not a particularly private person, I gladly share my real name regularly (it’s so distinctive that I’m pretty easy to track down anyway) and I know that any semblance of privacy on the web is just that – a semblance only – but I don’t like knowing that my personal information is going to be shared with all and sundry as a commodity by an organisation that wasn’t in that business when I signed up for it.
Just to get this straight – I’m not bothered about the privacy aspect (I’m near enough an open book as it is) but I am bothered about being treated as a piece of meat to be branded and sold. So I’ve gone through my MySpace profile and “updated” it. I don’t intend to get rid of it (there are a few websites where someone else already has my username… twats!) but will keep it as a place holder. I have however deleted my blog (there wasn’t much on there anyway) and the couple of photos I had too. I’ve also added a new profile picture which you’re free to use yourself if you feel like it: 
And if you’re interested in the text, it’s clause 6.1 of their terms and conditions of use!
6.1 MySpace does not claim any ownership rights in the text, files, images, photos, video, sounds, musical works, works of authorship, applications, or any other materials (collectively, “Content”) that you transmit, submit, display or publish (“post”) on, through or in connection with the MySpace Services. After posting your Content on, through or in connection with the MySpace Services, you continue to retain any such rights that you may have in your Content, subject to the limited license herein. By posting any Content on, through or in connection with the MySpace Services, you hereby grant to MySpace a limited license to use, modify, delete from, add to, publicly perform, publicly display, reproduce, and distribute such Content solely on, through or in connection with the MySpace Services, including, without limitation, through the MySpace Services to applications, widgets, websites or mobile, desktop or other services which are linked with your MySpace account (collectively, “Linked Services”), including, without limitation, distributing part or all of the MySpace Services and any Content included therein, in any media formats and through any media channels, except that Content marked “private” will not be distributed by MySpace outside the MySpace Services and Linked Services. This limited license does not grant MySpace the right to sell or otherwise distribute your Content outside of the MySpace Services or Linked Services. After you remove your Content from the MySpace Services we will cease distribution as soon as practicable, and at such time when distribution ceases, the license will terminate. If after we have distributed your Content outside of the MySpace Services, you change the Content’s privacy setting to “private,” we will cease distribution of such “private” Content outside of the MySpace Services as soon as practicable after you make the change. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you understand and agree that once Content is distributed to a Linked Service or incorporated into other aspects of the MySpace Services, MySpace is under no obligation to delete or ask other Users or a Linked Service to delete that Content, and therefore it may continue to appear and be used indefinitely.
So, it’s up to you what you want to do, but I know what I’m doing. I hardly ever use it anyway, and this just reminded me that I’d left a little bit of myself behind from 2006.
National Bullying Week
www.areyoubeingbullied.com
So, a little Birdie tells me that this week (16-20 November) is National Anti-Bullying Week. This little birdie is called Percy the Pigeon and he supports the fantastic BullyingUK in their hard work to help people who are affected by bullying. Now there has been a lot of discussion in the media about cyber-bullying over the past couple of days and I’m no expert, but I just wanted to say. If you read this (I know there’s not many people that do, but if you fall on this post by accident!) and you’re being bullied then know that you’re not alone.
There are a load of resources available online and offline for you. If you’re a member of a social networking site and feel intimidated or bullied then remember that most sites have a safety policy or some way to deal with harassment. Bebo‘s report button has been quite widely publicised but, while Bebo’s big, it hasn’t got the same coverage as the big three. So, if you want to know what Facebook, MySpace and twitter do about this sort of thing then the links above will take you straight to their safety pages.
But we know that bullying often doesn’t just take place online. It’s not uncommon for bullies to bully a target in person and then carry this on through new technology. This can be through your mobile phone, and BullyingUK has a great article about what to do if you’re being bullied by phone. The thing to remember though is this:
It’s not your fault. You don’t deserve to be bullied and have every right to feel safe.
If you, or anyone you know is being bullied then speak to an adult who you trust. This can be a parent, teacher, another family member, school counsellor, police officer, anyone that is there for you. If you feel unsure then remember that Childline is available throughout the UK. If you call from a landline then the calls are free. The number is 0800 1111. Remember though, you are never alone. There are lots of people out there who’ve been bullied at some point in their lives. I talked about my experiences a few months ago. But do you know what? We got through it and made a success of our lives – and so can you!
But bullying doesn’t only happen to young people. Adults can experience it too, at work, at home, out with friends. And it can sometimes feel even more difficult. But there are resources available for adults too. BullyOnLine have some great resources for adults so, if you’re being bullied have a look. And if you don’t know whether you’re being bullied then have a look at this list.
To sum up I have to quote my little feathered friend because: Percy Says “Stay Safe in Cyberspace”
Download the widget stay safe in cyberspace – National anti-bullying week 2009
more widgets at Widgadget at widgets community!
twitter – a personal view
There are loads of blogs and websites and twitterers out there for companies. With posts about how to increase your market share, get lots of followers and connect with your potential clients.
That’s great for business users and I’d like to just recognise a couple that I’ve found useful. I really like the twitip team for their clear, no-nonsense posts, and @MarkShaw for being an all-round generally great guy, friendly, welcoming and informative!
A lot of people are asking “What’s so great about twitter? It’s just a load of people posting what they had for breakfast.” But it’s not, it’s so much more, it’s the logical extension of the personal web presence that people have been having for years. I suppose I’d better explain myself (and before people start thinking I’m an expert of some sort, I’m not. I’ve just tried to find the best online presence for me for around 13 years – back when I was at college)…
At first, if you wanted some sort of web presence then you had to design a website, but that was fiddly and took a lot of work you signed up for your Angelfire or Geocities account and the fiddled with the awful WYSIWYG editor then realised that you really needed to learn HTML.
Then came blogs, a simple, easy to use format but you had to think about what you wanted to say and say lots of it! Then the social networking sites stepped up, myspace with its customisation to the back teeth and apps and a way to connect to your friends so they could update your page and vice versa, and now Facebook - again simplifying and streamlining the process.
And now we have twitter, the logical conclusion to the streamlining. Why do you need apps when you have iGoogle or Windows Live Space? You can store your photos in flickr or photobucket and tweet a link to them or if you’re photographing on the move then there’s always TwitPic, or for the Twidroid users out there, Phodroid. Twitter is, quite simply, a minimalist’s dream that allows you to do exactly what you want. Communicate!
