Mark Zuckerberg has been daydreaming. Ironically enough, it would seem that a daydream is all it takes for Facebook to turn on a dime, and push their focus in a direction that people would never have previously thought about.
That is why when the news broke this week that Mark Zuckerberg has been dreaming about the day when users can share their thoughts telepathically to Facebook, his social networking empire, the reaction was mixed.
Imagine living in a world where all it took to share to Facebook was a simple thought. We’re clearly not there when it comes to technology, but the fact that it’s something even being entertained or dreamt about is revealing considering the fact that some think Facebook is overbearing as it is now. The technology required to make such a thing happen would obviously have to be significant.
However, it opens up an interesting debate about privacy, conversation on social networking, and policing what is put on social networking. Some people in the mobile phone industry have entertained the idea saying things like, “Imagine the day when you can answer the phone with a simple thought.” It might seem like something out of a science-fiction movie, but it is definitely how people are thinking.
Here is a legitimate question though, if this is the direction we’re headed: What happens to the thoughts that aren’t shared to Facebook? That’s right, the things that we don’t share to Facebook, or whatever social platform has access to our mind and thoughts – would theoretically be available if a truly telepathic sharing system was taking place. That means working through some of the details, like ensuring that our information is always safe – would become an even more daunting task.
Obviously, telepathic sharing would probably be a lot less literal than one might be led to think. Perhaps not necessarily reading your mind, as much as it would be merely mind activated.
The fact is though, however it is executed, there will be serious questions raised about how it is happening – and what is left for the discrepancy. Similar to the privacy concerns raised by artificial intelligence, this would essentially create a secondary line of threat that could potentially reach into the thoughts and ideas we have in our minds and use them in a way that is compromising.
If nothing else, it seems like yet another way for Facebook and other tech companies to target ads at users, which no one would ever want to deal with. The thought of Facebook having access to your mind, to target more ads at yourself, might seem like one of the most frightening prospects ever.
