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I don't know if everyone's heard about this, but LiveJournal has struck a deal with some unnamed corporations to have sponsored communities (communities made by the corporations to promote stuff) and offer new features with a "sponsored by" tag stuck on there. (Here is ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bradfitz's "clarifying" post.)
I spent a lot of time last night reading a bunch of thewank discussion in the many, many pages of comments on both posts, and while I'm not so bothered about the advertising involved in these new developments (it infuriates many users because part of why they pay is to avoid seeing ads, and the sponsored-feature tag, at least, will be difficult to avoid), some points were raised that do worry me. These points have not yet been addressed.
1. How much influence will sponsors have when it comes to content? LJ's ToS is pretty well against fannish things such as fanfic and RPGs ("[...] LiveJournal and its designates shall have the right, but not the obligation, to remove any content that violates the TOS or is otherwise objectionable, or that infringes or is alleged to infringe intellectual property rights."), but that stuff is a big chunk of what LJ is and so they've used the "not an obligation" loophole to turn a blind eye. Will they do that still? Or will the sponsors be able to get communities and journal they don't like suspended? As a fannish sort into both fic and RPG, this is the one that scares me the most.
2. What about privacy? Will sponsors be able to buy our data? How much of it? Will users set up to get text messages start getting junk messages? Will we get more spam in our e-mail? Looking at the privacy policy, I would suspect yes to some of these: "In the course of operating our business it may be necessary or appropriate for us to provide access to your personal information to others such as our service providers, contractors and select vendors so that we can operate the Service and our business. Where practical, we seek to obtain confidentiality agreements that are consistent with this policy and that limit others' use or disclosure of the information you have shared."
3. Sort of related, how about comment spam? LJ's historically worked hard to kill it, but they weren't getting money from the spammers before. Will sponsors be able to search interests and leave "I see you like cheese, I bet you'll love this new community" comments unchecked?
Dozens of users have posed these questions in the comments, and LJ has not answered them. I'm not gonna flee screaming just yet, but I'm going to be keeping an eye out. The first fannish ToS or junk text message or comment spam ignored by LJ that I hear about, I'm gonna start looking to make other arrangements. There are way, way too many journaling sites out there to put up with anything from LJ that we don't want to put up with.
To that end! A poll. Because, man, if I hafta leave, I'll miss you guys. We'd need to regroup elsewhere.
[Poll #834469]
* JournalFen - No ads. Free accounts are kind of hard to get (you need a code from a paid user or just good timing, since they occasionally have account creation windows), but they have two levels of paid accounts, plus a ton more icons than LJ. Basic costs the same as LJ, but you have to get the premium account for a customized mood theme. I prefer JF myself, because I managed to snag a free account that I'd be happy to upgrade to paid with money that LJ wouldn't be getting anymore. I've had a good experience there playing on fandom_wank and its assorted sister communities, and I very much like what I've seen of the people who run it. They are very fair and take good care of their users.
bradfitz's "clarifying" post.)I spent a lot of time last night reading a bunch of the
1. How much influence will sponsors have when it comes to content? LJ's ToS is pretty well against fannish things such as fanfic and RPGs ("[...] LiveJournal and its designates shall have the right, but not the obligation, to remove any content that violates the TOS or is otherwise objectionable, or that infringes or is alleged to infringe intellectual property rights."), but that stuff is a big chunk of what LJ is and so they've used the "not an obligation" loophole to turn a blind eye. Will they do that still? Or will the sponsors be able to get communities and journal they don't like suspended? As a fannish sort into both fic and RPG, this is the one that scares me the most.
2. What about privacy? Will sponsors be able to buy our data? How much of it? Will users set up to get text messages start getting junk messages? Will we get more spam in our e-mail? Looking at the privacy policy, I would suspect yes to some of these: "In the course of operating our business it may be necessary or appropriate for us to provide access to your personal information to others such as our service providers, contractors and select vendors so that we can operate the Service and our business. Where practical, we seek to obtain confidentiality agreements that are consistent with this policy and that limit others' use or disclosure of the information you have shared."
3. Sort of related, how about comment spam? LJ's historically worked hard to kill it, but they weren't getting money from the spammers before. Will sponsors be able to search interests and leave "I see you like cheese, I bet you'll love this new community" comments unchecked?
Dozens of users have posed these questions in the comments, and LJ has not answered them. I'm not gonna flee screaming just yet, but I'm going to be keeping an eye out. The first fannish ToS or junk text message or comment spam ignored by LJ that I hear about, I'm gonna start looking to make other arrangements. There are way, way too many journaling sites out there to put up with anything from LJ that we don't want to put up with.
To that end! A poll. Because, man, if I hafta leave, I'll miss you guys. We'd need to regroup elsewhere.
[Poll #834469]
* JournalFen - No ads. Free accounts are kind of hard to get (you need a code from a paid user or just good timing, since they occasionally have account creation windows), but they have two levels of paid accounts, plus a ton more icons than LJ. Basic costs the same as LJ, but you have to get the premium account for a customized mood theme. I prefer JF myself, because I managed to snag a free account that I'd be happy to upgrade to paid with money that LJ wouldn't be getting anymore. I've had a good experience there playing on fandom_wank and its assorted sister communities, and I very much like what I've seen of the people who run it. They are very fair and take good care of their users.
