Literary Discussions

Renee asks "WHY does Facebook care?"  - good question, and we may expand the question to every social network (Google Plus, Myspace, Diaspora, et al. ) ...  Each social network has "Terms of Use" which in part are designed to give the social network maximum control and exculpate them from any blame or wrong doing.  Facebook literally has 500 million members and the volume of posts each hour is astronomical. Something this large cannot be controlled or policed by real people (who might "care") but by robotic programs (bots) which search for keywords perhaps, and can recognize certain things about photos or copyrighted media, and which can respond to REPORTS (complaints) issued by other users. This policing is done for many and various reasons. Certain activities on social networks are illegal. Hate speech is illegal. Harming minors or contributing to the delinquency of a minor is illegal.  Since apps like FB and G+ are used internationally the social network runs the risk of violating some law of a foreign government. For example there are nations which have passed laws AGAINST denying the Jewish and Armenian holocausts. By the way, I deplore holocaust deniers, but I am giving examples of some of the many reasons why policing and enforcement of T.O.U. (Terms of Use) must be in place.  Google Plus has stated that it will NOT police what is posted to PRIVATE circles UNLESS someone in one of those circles lodges a complaint but they will police PUBLIC posts.  I suppose in theory some terrorist group or a group which seeks the overthrow of a government will form a private circle and conduct their business and as long as no one in the circle lodges a complaint then such criminal activity will go unnoticed.