FACEBOOK VS. THE GROOVEWONDEROUS WALL OF TUNES
“It is a dark time for the rebellion.” Err…I mean…for anyone who confidently believes that the content they share on Facebook/social media inherently belongs to them.The question of whether or not a platform like Facebook is an appropriate, healthy, protected means of expressing one’s personal thoughts and innermost feelings is a legitimate one. Who owns these expressions once the user posts them to Facebook? Today I explore this issue and how it pertains to my decision to create THE WALL OF TUNES blog.
The Problem with Facebook
Despite Facebook’s apparent transparency on the matter, the actual truth regarding who owns the content of posts is a murky one. The official company line (statement of rights and responsibilities) maintains that the user retains ownership. Deeper dives into the finely printed legalese, however, reveal that these protections are not universally exclusive. Facebook claims shared rights to intellectual properties published on its platform. That’s right – your personal photos, videos, performances, artwork, etc. are theirs to do with as they please once you click “share.”
BEWARE OF WOLVES with COLLEGE BOY HAircuts
Mark Zuckerberg’s track-record as a serpentine, amoral sociopath precedes him. That said, Facebook’s dubious, hard-wired policies regarding “fair use” of intellectual property should surprise no one. He knows that the average user is either too trusting or too numbed by ambivalence to ask questions when digitally signing their rights away .
Lacking the will to sift through the ultra-fine print of the voluminous Facebook user agreement, we all surrender ownership of everything we post the very second we press “accept.” Our pictures, stories, and reactions – everything ultimately belongs to them as blood payment for the “free” service they provide.
money IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL TODAY
However the lawyers and money behind Facebook frame things, the truth is that this practice is a hustle; an exploitation; a con. Corporations and organized crime are almost indistinguishable where tactics are concerned. They are like mobsters who, rather than leverage information to extort money or “favors” from their “marks,” legally sell it off outright to corporate data farms and God knows what else. And then those entities, in turn, without our express knowledge, use that information for their own financial benefit. On and on and on it goes.
Of course, Facebook isn’t alone. Remember those tracking “cookies” websites insert in your browsers…? It’s the same thing. They all exploit our information for personal gain (corporations are “people,” too you know). But that doesn’t make the practice any less sucky. We all should know by now that terms like “right” and “wrong” are complete abstracts where the law is concerned. Money makes sure of that.
Either way, if I’m pouring the essence of my singular mental-spiritual stew into anything, I want reasonable assurance that my intellectual property is legally my own and no one else’s unless I expressly say otherwise. Acceptable exceptions may include contractual payments for commissioned works, proper employment agreements, donations for charity… You get the point.
GETTING TO THE POINT
For years, I’ve used Facebook like a public journal; cathartically sharing alternately passionate or passing thoughts/opinions on subjects ranging from family to music to politics with “friends,” far and wide. However, of late, I’ve obviously questioned whether social media was a suitable vehicle for this kind of elaborate self-expression. It’s fine for sharing proud family moments, pet pics and brief quips, sure, but not really suited to extended, meaningful discussions. Unless we mean to unleash the instant internet rage machine, that is.
The thing is – I’m not really a meaningless chit-chat kind of guy. I’m no good at it. If interested at all, I almost always want to dig deeper, regardless of the subject – to the point of distraction. Conversation that doesn’t evolve beyond the congenial, unoffending passing of time is unsatisfying. No one walks away any the wiser. I often feel that I don’t have a lot to contribute in these situations and grow mute. Of course, on the other hand, I do feel bad sometimes when the uninitiated make the mistake of humoring my tendency to blather on endlessly about…whatever.* Wind me up and I just…go.
* A mistake that you, my audience, are no doubt realizing right now (smile).
FINDING A BETTER FORUM
THE WALL OF TUNES was conceived to serve as a new outlet (dumping ground) for in-depth musings about the subjects I’m passionate about – principally life and music, music and life. If it grows to the point where I can make a living writing about what I love, I won’t lie – that’d be nothing short of life-affirming. But I’m not interested in being yet another hipster-cool influencer masquerading as an all-knowing beacon of objective authority. This blog is all about relating subjective experiences. I’m not a slick professional hoping to capture the attention of all-powerful corporate media gods. I’m just here to be me.
I have strong opinions about what qualifies as “good” and “bad” but I’m not irrationally immovable. I respect the fact that other people are entitled to like what they like. My tastes aren’t for everyone, either. I often hear sheer genius in musics mainstream listeners deem too weird to be listenable, so I get it.
Agree with me. Disagree with me.
Write a comment and start a conversation.
It’s all good!
Welcome to the Wall of Tunes!