The last interesting article I came across while browsing through digg.com, was about how soldiers have been told to stop using social networking websites like MySpace and Facebook, after military officials ruled it could lead to a security breach. According to the article, posting information on the internet through blogging, joining in forum discussions or online multiplayer games is now considered "public disclosure of information". As a result, troops who regularly use networking sites to keep in touch with family and friends are angered.
I have friends that attend USAFA [US Air Force Academy], are enlisted in the Navy, Army, and Air force and keep in contact with me through AIM, facebook, and myspace. I'm sure that as a safety precaution they had the best intentions in mind for banning social networking sites. But this is the new digital age, where the generation is more technologically savvy and more common means and methods of communication have evolved from letters/postcards and emails to texting, leaving facebook/myspace comments, posting online video/textual blogs, etc. So to take that away from people who are already so distant from their actual social networks is a controversial decision. Personally, I feel it's a personal space. I feel that they should have their right to privacy and own a Myspace and Facebook. Instead of banning Myspace and Facebook, the government should make a compromise on allowing them to just use it solely for the purpose of social networking/keeping in touch with friends and family and not disclose any information regarding their training, position, location, and military "specs." Any thoughts on this matter?
