Source: http://syafirulramli.wordpress.com/2011/02/17/facebooks-web-of-frenemies/
To the Makers of Facebook
In 2004, a group of Harvard guys put their brains together and thought of what we know today to be Facebook. Since this day, over 500 million people have joined the revolution. There have been millions of reconnections, reunions, break ups, proposals, and more throughout this one website. Many would call it the most successful website in the world. The makers claim that the site is “open to anyone.” It’s free, and all you need is a valid email address to sign up. But, is this actually true? The answer is no- it’s not. In addition to a valid email address, one must possess sight and be able to perform basic functions in order to work the site.
Facebook has transformed itself to fit every class of humans. It changes languages, uses basic words and tools, etc. However, it doesn’t consider disabled persons as a class. With this being said, it doesn’t cater to an entire group of people. Those who are visually impaired cannot use the site without assistance. This is extremely inconvenient for disabled people - they don’t have the same opportunities that others do to connect and network. If a person were to be paralyzed, deaf, mute, etc, face-to-face networking would be difficult. The internet is supposed to be a tool to connect with people without having to be face-to-face, and they are denied that luxury.
Upon signing up for Facebook, users must agree to their terms and conditions. This means that they agree to not post malicious material that can be harmful or offensive to others. However, this is not what has happened. In 2009, Tom Shakespeare conducted a study on Facebook. He uncovered over 500 groups that were directed against disabled people. Are those not considered malicious? In response to the fact that malicious people exist and would try and make groups like these, Facebook added a “report as offensive” button. I’m sure people have reported at least some of these groups- why do they still exist?
Facebook has transformed itself to fit every class of humans. It changes languages, uses basic words and tools, etc. However, it doesn’t consider disabled persons as a class. With this being said, it doesn’t cater to an entire group of people. Those who are visually impaired cannot use the site without assistance. This is extremely inconvenient for disabled people - they don’t have the same opportunities that others do to connect and network. If a person were to be paralyzed, deaf, mute, etc, face-to-face networking would be difficult. The internet is supposed to be a tool to connect with people without having to be face-to-face, and they are denied that luxury.
Upon signing up for Facebook, users must agree to their terms and conditions. This means that they agree to not post malicious material that can be harmful or offensive to others. However, this is not what has happened. In 2009, Tom Shakespeare conducted a study on Facebook. He uncovered over 500 groups that were directed against disabled people. Are those not considered malicious? In response to the fact that malicious people exist and would try and make groups like these, Facebook added a “report as offensive” button. I’m sure people have reported at least some of these groups- why do they still exist?