We’re fully aware of how flagrant Facebook’s been but Congress has proved to be even dumber than we thought. That’s right folks – we’ve reached a new level of idiocy. So, you ask, “how could that be?” Or, maybe you’re thinking – “that’s rude, why would you say such a thing?” Well, it’s simple really.
There’s a significant lack of understanding when it comes to Congress and their individual relationship(s) with (or without,in this case) social media. Plain and simple. This falls in line with the old saying, “walk a mile in my shoes.” As in, how can you judge a man if you haven’t lived his experiences? And in this case, how can Congress effectively evaluate Facebook’s wrong doings and policy reform unless they themselves truly comprehend how the system functions in the first place? Answer: They can’t.
Case in point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYL4gMsGZgE
Video edit by American Revolution
Instead of providing insightful, solution oriented feedback, Congress took multiple, personal and professional, jabs at Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook. In fact, FB walked out of its April 11th & 12th hearings looking better than before they walked in. The public was under the impression Congress would bestow some sort of punishment or formal direction but instead, they made a mockery of themselves by repeatedly belittling Zuckerberg and his past. Steering off topic, the trial felt condemning to Zuckerberg rather than helpful to the people/Facebook’s users. Ultimately, the hearings were reflective of a ‘Mean Girls’ style, roundtable attack. Zuckerberg was Cady Heron and Congress, playing the role perfectly, was Regina George.
So where does this leave us?
Wise mind, Mark Schaefer of BusinessesGrow.com, has done a fantastic job of covering the topic. Simply put:
“It [Facebook’s hearings] proved conclusively what I had believed for many years … the U.S. government leaders know so little about tech that they cannot even ask meaningful questions under a national spotlight, let alone develop comprehensive cyber-policies that will protect our citizens and promote our critical tech industries.” – stated by Mark Schaefer.
Schaefer outlines the neglected but necessary policies that should’ve been addressed by Congress:
1. Privacy
2. Security
3. Competitiveness
4. AI [artificial intelligence] and beyond
Read Schaefer’s full article for a comprehensive breakdown of each recommended policy change here: https://www.businessesgrow.com/2018/04/13/facebook-congressional-hearings/
For additional thoughts, glance over this article by Kevin Namaky at Gurulocity.com: https://gurulocity.com/facebook-dumb-congress-dumber/?utm_source=Gurulocity+Updates&utm_campaign=0850b9a239-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_432f60a6a0-0850b9a239-193702785
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire but here’s to hoping the FB ashes have settled, for now anyway. Facebook still has some rebuilding ahead of them but there’s no doubt they’ll bounce back stronger than ever. And let us not forget, we are still in control. Facebook has revised their Terms of Services and Data User Policy (see our previous blog post for those details) and like before, utilizing Facebook is a personal choice. Something tells us things will move forward accordingly…the biggest difference is that people are finally aware of and understand EXACTLY how they are and can be effected by being an FB user moving forward.
Still looking to use Facebook as a strategic social media tool? We can help you and your company figure out creative ways to maximize Facebook’s platform as a key ingredient and resource in your marketing efforts! Email us at info@mondaycreatives.com!
Keep calm and see you Monday!
Tags: congress, facebook, facebook hearings, Facebook scandal, mark zuckerberg, privacy, security, social media, tech, tech trends
