GREENSBORO, NC -- The updated News & Record website (currently offline) requires users to be tracked by Facebook to write or view comments.
I won't get into an explanation of why you should care; either you are fine with third parties monitoring your internet activity or you object. Those of us who prefer not to have our clicks and views monitored, recorded and compiled; those of us who prefer not to have the information, news and entertainment we access assembled into a consumer dossier; those of us who prefer not to have our faces recognized and, without our knowledge or consent, linked to profiles of the most intimate details of our lives, well, such folks abound and we take some simple steps to diminish such tracking.
For many, securing some control over our information begins with simply setting our web browsers to block third party cookies. Some of us take even stronger measures, installing quick and easy add-ons to our web browsers that put further restrictions on tracking and monitoring technologies (Ghostery, Do Not Track Me).
As you might imagine, one of the most egregious and prolific collectors of personal data online is Facebook. (This Is How Facebook Is Tracking Your Internet Activity -- Business Insider)
With the recent update to the News & Record's website (down at the moment), people who have taken such privacy measures cannot comment on the News & Record's stories, blog posts or letters. Worse though, we cannot even view comments—not unless we allow the installation of Facebook's tracking mechanisms. One must allow tracking by Facebook not only to write comments but even just to read comments on the News & Record's website. Block Facebook's monitoring and comments are invisible.
I understand why the News & Record did this. In an environment where an organization has no imagination or ability for technology (they appear to have dismissed everybody with actual web tech skills), the N&R has consigned itself to being purely an end user of technology—they are not facilitators, innovators or inventors—and, as such, they are at the mercy of the requirements of whatever off-the-shelf solutions they deploy. In this case, their chosen solution limits the ability to write and view comments to schmucks.
When I learned the N&R would be using Facebook my first thought was of you. While I use Facebook I share your concerns. As a matter of fact were it not for the ability to drive traffic I would not use Facebook at all.
ReplyDeleteBut there is a bright side albeit small. To the dismay and horror of Greensboro status quo, the next time the N&R deletes their archives the comments and the hyperlinks will remain online... on Facebook where they will be seen by many more than would have ever seen them had they not chosen Facebook commenting.
Like you wrote, "they are not facilitators, innovators or inventors..." they're not very bright.
15+ hours after the OKC tornado and there's nothing about it on the NR home page.
ReplyDeleteRoch, did you really have to go and call Facebook commenters schmucks?
ReplyDeleteAll commenting systems come with pros and cons. While it is true that some people cannot or will not comment on our stories through Facebook, we are getting a lot more comments than we did with our previous site. It's too soon to know whether the traffic will be as strong as it was before our CMS switch last fall. But there will always be people who choose not to comment, even under a pseudonym. I recall getting emails several years ago from readers who said they would not comment on my stories or blog posts because of all the spiteful and off-topic comments we used to get.
Morgan,
ReplyDeleteDo you want to have a serious discussion? If you do, let's be accurate. The shmucks are not Facebook commenters, they are people who surf the internet content to allow Facebook to monitor their surfing through the use of tracking schemes, the likes of which the News & Record has installed on its new site.
Also, it is not true that some people cannot or will not comment on your stories through Facebook, as you say, it is true that NOBODY will comment on your site or VIEW comments on your site without allowing Facebook tracking simply because of your platform's configuration -- it's not a user choice.
I'm curious too, why does the N&R think people should enable Facebook tracking simply to view comments? How does that benefit us or the N&R?
ReplyDeleteI just looked at an article on news-record.com and posts through yahoo, aol and hotmail are all allowed. Am I missing something?
ReplyDeleteThose options are unavailable if you do not permit facebook's tracking cookie.
ReplyDeleteThanks, oh techie one.
ReplyDelete