“Facebook” and “Mark Zuckerberg” should be awarded the “names of the week” prize.

As the
Internet-shattering data mining scandal unfolds, the names of the biggest social platform in the world
and its founder have been invoked on myriad news reports. Our minds blown, we suddenly find
ourselves in the driver’s seat of the public outcry, clamouring for the removal of Facebook while Mark
tries hard to steer his giant ship on the bumpy road to forgiveness.
But, all the viral outrage and congressional hearings aside, it is high time we retreated to the
back room of our own and started musing upon what’s actually in it - in a scandal that, rarefied as it
may seem, has indeed reminded us of several facts too intertwined with our fate to be ignored.
A key, but often overlooked, takeaway from Facebook’s data policy is that “information that
others have shared about you is not part of your account and will not be deleted when you delete your
account”. This involves the retention of messages between you and your Facebook friends even if you
delete your account, according to CBS News.
So what does it mean for you, for millions of users who are logging into the app every day?
Well, you may guess it right: whether against our will or not, a piece of us - an incomplete, fragmentary
piece - would possibly be laid bare under the eyes of history for good. The sad truth is, what we portray
on Facebook and social media sites of its kind is usually a glossy tiny self that bears little resemblance
to the real us. Who would want such a porous representation of themselves to be stored in some place
other than their own subconscious, right under the scrutiny of some invisible force? Probably none.
The closer towards the golden era of technology we move, the more abrasion-resistant our
digital footprint becomes. Faced with the prospect of walking into eternity in a form that belies our
intrinsic values, should we all begin to deliberate on the question of who we would like to go down in
history as?
[Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ok-youve-deleted-facebook-but-is-your-data-still-out-there/ ]

1. Internet-shattering (adj): having a very great effect and of great importance on the Internet
2. Data mining (n): looking at large amounts of information that has been collected on a computer
and using it to provide new information
3. Myriad (adj): extremely large in number

Page 1
4. Clamour (for something): to demand something loudly
5. Muse (about/on/over/upon something): to think carefully about something for a time, ignoring
what is happening around you = deliberate on something
6. Porous (adj): having many small holes that allow water or air to pass through slowly
7. Audit (n): an official examination of the quality or standard of something
8. For good: permanently
9. Intrinsic (adj): belonging to or part of the real nature of something/somebody
10. Intertwine with (something): to be or become very closely connected with
something/somebody else
11. Digital footprint: the information about a particular person that exists on the Internet as a result
of their online activities
12. Takeaway (n): an important fact, point or idea to be remembered from a talk, meeting or event
13. Outcry (n): a reaction of anger or strong protest shown by people in public
14. Go down in history: be remembered or recorded in history
15. Rarefied (adj): distant from the lives and concerns of ordinary people

Page 2