Beacon

If you follow news about the Internet, or if you use Facebook, you may have heard of Beacon, their new advertising system. Thanks to this system, Facebook is watching you even when you’re not looking at Facebook. If you buy something from Overstock.com or movie tickets on Fandango or shop at a few dozen other sites, Facebook will notify your friends as part of your news feed. You can say no, but as of this moment you have to say no every time you shop at these places.

All I can say to you is, if you’re going to keep using Facebook, and after a stunt like this I’m not sure it’s advisable, you need to be aware that your every move is being tracked and analyzed as a way to extract money from your bank account. Facebook is no longer something fun and cute. It is now a huge corporate enterprise that’s under constant pressure to raise profits and you are the ones they’re going to be making those profits from. Also, if you’re buying presents for people, be aware that they may be getting news about what you’re buying.

Just remember that Internet privacy is oxymoronic.