Length: 263 Words Reading Time: 1 Minute

I read Peggy Noonan’s column titled, “Overthrow the Prince of Facebook” in the June 6th edition of the Wall Street Journal, and I found myself agreeing with her for once. However, my perception of Facebook is a bit different. Let me explain.

I have two concerns regarding Facebook.  The first is that Facebook collects a lot of data on its users; these users now total almost 2.4 billion people on the planet. Facebook’s reach is extraordinary and unbelievably consequential.

The second is that Facebook usage is unusually addictive for many users and made more so by the clever bits of functionality that Facebook continually develops.  This addiction is to my mind like self-brainwashing, especially for the members of Generations X, Y, and Z.

I do not believe anything can be done about my second point, because that is a personal decision that individuals have to make for themselves.

However, my first point about data collection warrants priority attention.  Facebook must not be allowed to gather information about users without their consent.  And that consent by users must be informed by ensuring that Facebook users clearly understand what information Facebook collects and how Facebook uses the information.  Facebook users must have total control over the detailed use or non-use of their data.  It cannot be otherwise.

Complete transparency and full disclosure are mandatory for Facebook, primarily because the Prince of Facebook is not benign in his vision or his actions. These privacy issues are paramount in a free society because if they are not corrected now, then our freedom will continue to be eroded.