Facebook, our new substitutionary version of Big Brother

1984, the novel by George Orwell is very dear to the heart of every American, whether they have read the book or not. The idea of Big Brother knowing the thoughts and actions of the private citizen creates paranoia and protests from many. For what is more fearful than an intrusive government keeping an eye on our every action in the name of security for our country?

But perhaps our perceptions of what may constitute a Big Brother may need to change. Google is scarily silent about some of it's methods of gathering information (every notice how the advertisements in gmail eerily reflect a recent email you had read? Not a coincidence).

But for today's post, i present to you Exhibit B: Facebook. In today's link,  we read quotes from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his defense for recent privacy setting changes on facebook, and the apparently inevitable loss of our privacy. The changes to the privacy settings won't alter our lifestyle in any way, but it just makes our information on facebook that much more readily available to advertisers and facebook stalkers alike all in the name of "the times they are a-changin."

Needless to say this does not resonate well with the author of the article, nor myself...your thoughts are welcomed.