Thursday, April 12, 2012

SELLING YOU ON FACEBOOK


“Many popular Facebook apps are obtaining sensitive information about users – and users’ friends – so don’t be surprised if details about your religion, political and even sexual preferences start popping up in unexpected places”  ANGWIN, Julia and SANGWIN- VINE JEREMY (April 7, 2012), Selling You on Facebook, The Wall Street Journal; http://online.wsj.com

Level: ***

BEFORE YOU READ

1.       What exactly are apps? Provide some examples

2.       Which apps do you have and what do you like about them?

3.       Is there a hidden cost of getting apps? What do you think it might be?

4.       Now read the title and subtitle of the text and explain your reaction.

QUESTIONS

1.       What price do you pay for apps?

2.       What reassurance do Yahoo and Skype offer their users?

3.       Why does Facebook covet all this personal information?

4.       Privacy has become an issue in the modern world because ……………………………………………………

5.       Read the information concerning “MyPad for İPad”, “Between You and Me” and “Truths About You”. What conclusion can you draw concerning Facebook from these examples?

6.       How do advertisers benefit from personal information?

7.       What does “this” refer to in the phrase “This explains why some apps…” on page 3?

8.       Read the story of Jill Levenson. What does the word “unconstrained” mean in this context?

9.       What does “this” refer to in the phrase “This could be a violation of Facebook’s advertising policies”?

10.   “Apps are required to seek permission to access Facebook data”. What term is used to explain why people just go ahead and approve the request?

11.   Read the story of Foursquare. What conclusion can be drawn about the decisions making process of those who got the app?

12.   According to Helen Nissenbaum, what would have prevented the Foursquare problem?

13.   In what ways are Smartphone apps inferior to their Facebook counterparts?

14.   What wise business decision did Mark Zuckerberg make which News Corp neglected to do?

15.   Why did Elizabeth Denham agree to allow Facebook not to seek permission from friends when their data was disclosed to an app?

16.   Read the story of Amy Vernon. Does she represent a majority or a minority according to the text? How do you know?



WRITING TASK

Write a cause analysis essay discussing the reasons for the popularity of apps. It is suggested that you divide your development into two paragraphs so as to be able to cover the reasons in terms of people who get the apps and the reasons in terms of big business. You will need to refer back to the text in order to do this. In your conclusion, you might like to suggest some solutions to the problem. Again, refer back to the text to pinpoint them.  It is also possible to write an effect analysis essay wherein you discuss the effects in terms of individuals and big business. The conclusion in this latter instance should again be solutions.



SELLING YOU ON FACEBOOK / KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES

This very topical text should go down well with most students. Although the text and the accompanying reading task are relatively straightforward, the writing task is not. So it could be done at pre intermediate level with more guidance and at intermediate level with less; the latter is what I propose to do next week.

1.       You supply personal data.

2.       That they seek the information to customize their services for users and that they are committed to protecting data.

3.       To attract advertisers, apps makers and other business opportunities.

4.       Most people now carry information transmitting devices with them at all times.

5.       Facebook occasionally isn’t enforcing its own rules concerning data privacy.

6.       They create customized adds.

7.       Popular apps can go viral there and gain millions of users.

8.       Unrestricted

9.       Letting unapproved advertising companies track users

10.   Habituation; If people see a warning a lot but the nothing bad happens, in the average case , it decreases the alarm level.

11.   They have trouble understanding… end of page 3

12.   Data usage norms or laws.

13.   They lack privacy policies, don’t offer as much information and control over their use of personal data.

14.   Welcomed widget makers by providing the kind of help that would ensure that their software could operate smoothly within Facebook . It also offered…

15.   Because many apps are designed to be social and interactive.

16.   Minority. More than half surveyed…. About 40% didn’t understand that…




No comments:

Post a Comment