#DeleteFacebook

▲ deletefacebook / 출처 : 구글 이미지

With the growing number of people using smartphones and the development of information-communication technology, SNS has become a friend and convenient communication tool for many people. The world's most popular SNS is Facebook, which has 2 billion users. However, the biggest social media [or: this social media giant] is in danger these days because the Facebook delete movement, called #DeleteFacebook, is spreading in the United States. Why are people withdrawing from Facebook?

Cambridge Analytica, a British statistics analysis company, collected 87 million Facebook users personal data without their knowledge during 2014-2015. Many Facebook users were shocked when it was uncovered that the personal data was transferred to many companies. Surprisingly, the leaked information was also transferred to a company that worked for Donald Trump's camp during the 2016 U.S presidential election and it was used it in an election campaign.

Facebook's recent leak of personal information to Cambridge Analytica created a Big Bang [or: shockewave]. Just one day after the problem was uncovered, Facebook stock prices tumbled 7 percent, and $ 396 of market capitalization disappeared. Many Americans are participating in a Facebook delete campaign called #DeleteFacebook. They are also questioning the ethical awareness throughout the IT industry.

On April 10, Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared at a U.S. Congressional hearing and apologized. He said in his opening remarks. “It was a big mistake. It was my mistake. We didn't take a broad enough view of our responsibility.” However, he also said Facebook will not stop using personal information because most of its revenue is generated from targeted advertising through its users' data. Instead, they will work to create a security system that can safely manage personal information. He also announced a policy to pay up to $40,000 in rewards for reporting personal data leakage cases to Facebook.

He answered many questions during five hours, and his wise response to the problem was praised. Accordingly, Facebook's stock price has risen 4.5 percent. However, it is expected that if Facebook has violated privacy law, it will be fined $1 billion.

We live in information age. That is definitely convenient but easy to leak personal information. So what should we do to protect our personal data? Like the title, you can leave Facebook or delete all your social media accounts. However, many people still spend most of their day doing SNS and rely on it. That is why it is difficult for many people to quit SNS. If it is difficult to delete an account, you must understand the value of your personal information and have a sense of ownership. We must also monitor the platform company's use of personal information.