Digital Trail

I'm not a big Facebook user. I remember posting vacation photos on the social media site once years ago — and realizing how much control I lost when I did that. I've been skittish about the site ever since.

But I give away data all the time, in ways great and small. The books I order, the words I write, the tweets I tweet — all leave a digital trail.  All I can do is make it a faint one.

Privacy has been on my mind these days, what with revelations that Facebook sold user data to Cambridge Analytica. I was amused to learn that an enterprising AP photographer was able to snap a picture of the talking points that Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg had in front of him at yesterday's congressional hearings.

The New York Times reports this tidbit: "Resign? Founded Facebook. My decisions. I made mistakes. Big challenge, but we've faced problems before, going to solve this one. Already taking action." And, if he had been asked if Facebook should be broken up, Zuckerberg was prepared to say: "U.S. tech companies key asset for America. Breakup strengthens Chinese companies."

 It's a fitting irony that Zuckerberg was outed not by social media but by old-fashioned media. Long live the camera ... and the pen!

(Savvy Facebook users might learn that this was my high school.)