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Facebook Just Misses Jumping the Shark...or Have They?
February 18, 2009

First, I need to stipulate that I am a huge fan of Facebook, in fact, an addict. And I’m concerned. By “slipping” in a new and egregious privacy policy earlier this month, they have begun to run the risk of alienating their legions of fans. And, while they reversed course after it was discovered and a massive public outcry insued, Facebook has put their brand cache in deep jeopardy. Whether the new policy was just a statement of the obvious...that what you put on the web never leaves the web...or is in fact a grab against privacy, one thing is for sure, the future of Facebook as a trusted brand came precariously close to disaster.

While each of us should know that anything we post on our Facebook has the potential to be seen by the entire world...so poster beware...that is materially different than Facebook taking ownership of your content, of your private information...with the right to do with it as they please. This policy was truly shocking for a company that grew organically on trust and must depend on organic growth to keep them moving forward. Did they think that people wouldn't notice or care? Or is it just inexperience, a miscalculated revenue grab or arrogance? Whatever the motive, they have created real doubt in the minds of their consumers...time will tell if it they have inflicted long term damage on themselves or if this was just a short term hick up...and kudos to them for recognizing that they had a real crises and handled it quickly and apparently competently...but, now more than ever they will have a bull’s-eye on every move and a magnifier on every policy...how they move from here will determine whether they remain an enduring brand or one that has begun to jump the shark.

Posted by Michael Kempner at February 18, 2009 10:47 AM