What would you be willing to do to gain 420 million friends? This question is facing the CEO and executives of Facebook as they explore the opportunity to enter the Chinese market. To date Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites 
The Chinese government has tight control of information and information access of its 420 million citizens with internet access. The country has a custom of restricting free speech. Its record on not only suppressing free speech, but violating the human rights of people and organizations willing to engage in free speech has been criticized by foreign governments as well as reputable organization such as Amnesty International. While Facebook has been banned in China since 2008, it is being reported current Facebook executives are negotiating with Chinese officials to lift the ban. Initial terms reported would include restricting certain content from being shared and displayed on Facebook. Furthermore, Facebook would have to allow the Chinese government access to the search and retrieval activities of Chinese users. The government would be able to determine what the users can view and monitor what they are searching for. If you think it is a hassle when you parents monitor you account, imagine what it would be like to know the government will be looking in.
China’s concern over open internet usage and social networking heightened in recent months given the use of social media in the Middle East to coordinate rallies and protests of governments in Egypt and Libya.
While the partnership is only speculative for now, Facebook has publically stated they may be willing to block certain content from some countries. They recognize the idea of complete and total free speech may be more than some countries are able to absorb given their current cultural and social situations.
What do you think of Facebook filtering content to gain access to China? Do you have a Facebook account? If so, how do you use Facebook? If not, why not? What are some of the potential dangers of Facebook? Do your parents monitor your activity? If so, what do you think about them looking in?
Danielle- Well i think that if it is important to China and they do what they need to do then, it is ok, I mean its not a big worry to us. I do not have a facebook account. I really want one though so I can chat with my friends and relatives from different cities and states. My mom says hurtful things and inapropriate or vulgar mesages and pictures can be said on facebook. But she said i could get one when I turn 13, maybe! She said i wud have to give her my password, so she can see what is going on. I mean, I don't mind that, but i really don't want her loooking at some of my personal stuff. I think facebook isn't to dangerous, but it can be if hurtful things and pictures can be said. You should also be careful we someone sends u a friend request that u don't know, you shud just ignore the request. As i said I don't my parents if they check every once and awhile but no into my personal stuff, that would bug me a little, but I don't have a facebook yet so, I'll just wait till i get 1 and c what happens! :)
ReplyDeletedanielle- sorry i made a few errors, I was rushing
ReplyDeleteAngie- I think Facebook should do what Google did. It's not fair for the people in China to have to have to be watched for every single thing they do. It's dumb that the government gets mad if someone just posts something and they don't like it. I don't have a facebook. It's not really my parents who won't let me because they don't really pay attention to that sort of stuff. But it's mostly my sisters who won't let me. I'm actually not sure why they won't let me. I guess that they're scared of some things on there. People could post bad thing on there I guess. It depends on how the parents monitor it. If the child is posting bad things, then they should monitor it. But sometimes there are things you have to say to your frinds and it's just weird when your parents are looking at it.
ReplyDeleteHalle- IF they are allowed access to facebook but the government has to monitor them, its better than nothing. At least they are getting the privilege to use it. But still, its not completely fair they have to be monitored. I have a facebook and my parents were debating if i should have on or not. I try not to go on facebook every hour and i set my privacy settings and dont post things i will regret. Potential dangers are posting about something bad about someone, or giving your password to someone and them doing things on your account you dont want to. Or even adding people you don't know has friends. the rule for me is i have to be friends with my parents so they can see what i'm posting. I guess i'm okay with that. They said they were going to have my password but they forgot soo...
ReplyDeleteHannah- I think China should get a chance to use Facebook. Yes, they would have a ton of filters but its better than nothing. I don't have a Facebook because my dad won't let me because he says it is dangerous. The potential dangers of Facebook are people posting hurtful things and if you give someone your password people could post things on your account. If I did get a Facebook my parents said I had to give them my password and add them as friends (well add my mom my dad doesn't have one)so they could see what people were posting and what I was posting. I can see why they would want to they just want to make sure nothing bad is happening but it would be weird if they could see everything I said to my friends...honestly though I don't think they would remember
ReplyDeletePhillip- I think Facebook should not filter the Chinese users accounts because what is the point of Facebook if you cant post what you want. I have a Facebook account. I use it to keep in touch with friends & family I don't get to see that often. If you are on Facebook and you post something like "going to Texas to see my cousins!!!" some crepper could see this and go to your house and rob you. My mother moniters my Facebook account. I really really really dislike that.
ReplyDeleteSofia- I think that China even thinking about allowing facebook is great so having the government monitor the peoples facebooks isnt so bad. I dont have a facebook acount but my parents are thinking of getting me one. At first my parents thouhgt i was too young but that are taking it into consideration. If i got a facebook my parenst would monitor my activity. I think that parents looking in on their kids facebook is ok, its a little creepy andf most kids dont want your parents to see what you talk with your friends about on facebook but parents tend to forget things sometimes and dont even bother to look at what their kids are doing, unless they are craz and check their kids facebook a lot, then i would be scared.
ReplyDeleteLuke- I think that China should be allowing their people to go on facebook. There are both good and bad reasons for facebook a bad thing is that its a good way to get in trouble and get sexually harassed by a stranger.But facebook is also a good source of communication like Cristina's cousins in China they cant really communicate besides facebook and long distance calling. My parents also don't monitor most everything i do on facebook. I do think that it is kinda weird and creepy that some kids parents watch every social thing they do. I think that parents should give kids some privacy though.
ReplyDeletegabby- i think that facebook shouldn't filter for the people in china. i think it goes against the whole point of facebook. but i can understand why they want to because of rallying in the middle east. i don't have a facebook and when i ask my parents why they say cause i'm not old enough. facebook can be dangerous because people can be different from what they say they are.
ReplyDeletejosu- For facebook this will be a huge sucess with 480 million potential users on the line. the chineese people will be happy if they are allowed to use facebook even if its filtered. I dont have a facebook because my parents think that i dont need one. if people know what you are doing 24/7 they could hurt you or break into your house and steal something when you are gone. you could be stalked or even kidnapped by people who you dont know.
ReplyDeleteRyan Z.- I am finding it very hard to formulate an opinion about Facebook in China because I'm not Chinese (shocker, I know) and nor do I have any Chinese affiliations. So I don't think that I can comment on Chinese Facebook because I'm not Chinese nor do I know anyone who is Chinese. But seriously, Facebook, NICE JOB!!! 600,000,000 users + another approximate 420,000,000 users is amazing. Great job.
ReplyDeleteMorgan- China should do what they want and we should not be concerned. It would be nice for people that know people in China to have another way to communicate. Like really don't have an opinion because I do not know anybody from china or need to get in contact. I don't have a facebook and don't really want one I don't like watching tv or being on the internet. I think it is a total waste of time. Dangers are you don't know people that are looking and anything could get out.
ReplyDeleteMorgan- I messed up I dont have an opinion
ReplyDeleteCooper- I dont think china should have a facebook because their getting monitored by the goverment and they can not express their feelings and what will they let them access what they want. No i havent got one yet my parents are disscussing it. Some of the potenial problems is that the wrong people can access your information.
ReplyDeleteRyan M- I think that facebook is over rated and should be banned from every continent. Facebook is a waste of time and chinese have better things to do like making things and eating rice. Facebook should not go to china and i think it shouldnt even be in amarica
ReplyDeleteAtticus- I agree with Ryan M. that facebook is a waste of time. I think that facebook is usefull in some ways like talking to people on the other side of the continent and talking to friends who you dont see very often but when people are getting on their facebook 20 times a day that is just too much. I do think that it would be usefull for the chinese in my first point but I think that the chinese government monerting their every word is a little over the top. I dont have a facebook nor do I need one I think that my e-mail and texting is enough.
ReplyDeleteMarya- I really don't think that filtering is a bad idea. i mean, it won't effect us in any way. i have a facebook and they are really fun. i can get in touch with my family in nebraska, utah, and even new zealand. i have privacy settings so safety doesn't really bother me. my parents have my password to check in on what i'm doing from time to time.
ReplyDeleteMaddy- I think filtering in China isn't fair for them because sometimes my dad filters what i do or what movie i can watch, so i dont agree what the government of China is doing to it's people. I do have a facebook account. I talk to friends and family members a lot. I have a setting on facebook where people can't see all my information unless they are a friend. My mom has my password but she doesn't go through anything she just does my farmville.
ReplyDeleteTravis-I think it is good to filter Facebook in China if it will let them allow it in China. I do have a facebook acount. I use facebook mostly to talk with my friends who i can't see who are in Texas. Lots of predators are on facebook and if they find you they can do some pretty bad damage. My dad has no idea what he's doing online so no for him but my mom has an acount and only checks mine by looking at my wall while logged into her acount. I wouldn't mind id they looked at it while logged in as me cause i have nothing to hide.
ReplyDeletekaed- I think that its good to filter facebook in China. I dont have a facebook account and i think its kind of stupid that other people can just look you up and find you and look at your profile. But if i did have a facebook i would really care if my mom look at my profile because i would have nothing to hide
ReplyDeletecristina- i think its ok for facebook to filter content to gain access to china because china is a communist country and there people don't have the same freedoms that we have. so facebook needs to respect the chinesse laws. i don't have a face book account becasue my parents wont let me. they think it is an invasion of privacy. But i disagree because i have cousin in china that i don't get to see that often and one of the only ways to communicate is to have a facebook. also i could privacy my screen. Some danger are adult sex offenders posing as teenagers and wanting to meet you, also people could stalk you if you post everything you asre doing at that time and place.
ReplyDeleteI think it is just wrong that facebook is monitering china and i think that it is mean to just monerter china and no place else.I have a facebook account and I use it to talk to my freinds and play games but there are some dangers of people saying they are someone that they arent.My parrents dont moniter my facebook account because they trust that i whont post or do something that i will regret on facebook.
ReplyDeletecody (above)
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