Facebook, the social networking Web site that grew from 100 million members in August 2008 to 150 million at the start of 2009, drew concern from some members last month with its new Terms of Use policy.

The Feb. 4 changes went unnoticed until a consumer-oriented blog, The Consumerist, pointed out and interpreted the changes.

“Now, anything you upload to Facebook can be used by Facebook in any way they deem fit, forever, no matter what you do later. Want to close your account? Good for you, but Facebook still has the right to do whatever it wants with your old content,” the blog said.

Following this post, Facebook was swamped with questions and comments.

On Feb. 16, Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg explained the changes in a blog of his own.

Facebook needs a license on posted content in order to share the content with the people that the users want it shared with, Zuckerberg explained.

Concerning Facebook retaining users’ content after an account is deleted, he related it to e-mails, writing, “When a person shares something like a message with a friend, two copies of that information are created — one in the person’s sent messages box and the other in their friend’s inbox. Even if the person deactivates their account, their friend still has a copy of that message.”

However, concerns continued to pour in.

The following day, Zuckerberg wrote, “Based on this feedback, we have decided to return to our previous terms of use while we resolve the issues that people have raised.”

A virtual town hall was created at the end of February in which new draft documents of Facebook Principles and Statement of Rights and Responsibilities were open to the opinions and votes of Facebook members. Voting will remain open until March 23, when Facebook will choose whether or not to adopt the statement’s terms.

Points that drew initial concerns have rendered the greatest response.

According to point 2.2, Facebook has the right to “use, copy, publicly perform or display, distribute, modify” content users post, such as photos and videos, until the content is either deleted or the account terminated.

In the town hall, many complained of the statement’s vagueness and posted their interpretations.

One bothered user said she posts personal photographs and artwork to share with friends, not for Facebook to use in whatever way it chooses.

“It’s almost like they can take your stuff and do whatever they want, maybe even make money,” said UW sophomore Cory Eng, who did not state his interpretations in the town hall.

Terminology in the statement such as “modify” has also increased some users’ concerns.

“‘Modify’ sounds totally fishy,” Eng said. “What the heck does that mean?”

However, junior Ashley Poeppel said that while she doesn’t understand why Facebook would even use her personal content, terms should be read.

“If you still want to join, don’t put something up you don’t want others to see,” Poeppel said.

Another statement of concern in point 2.2 reads: “You may delete your content or your account at any time with the understanding that removed information may persist in backup copies for a reasonable period of time.”

Again, users commented on the vagueness of the statement.

“What’s ‘reasonable period of time’?” Eng asked.

Poeppel said the “backup copies” seem to counter point 2.3, which states content is deleted either when the user manually deletes or when an account is terminated.

Despite the attention changes such as these have rendered, most users probably won’t care or even notice, Eng said.

Senior Sam Kim feels that people should just be aware of terms when using sites like Facebook.

“People should have the common sense to realize anything they post online anywhere is subject to something like this,” Kim said.

Reach reporter Joy Yagi at news@dailyuw.com.