I expect the privacy issue here will be decided by the courts. That being said I am not sure it is indefensible to say that a posting on the Internet, a decidedly world-wide public instrument, can be considered private.
Tell you kids and all the kids you know to be very careful what they post as it may have great impact on the rest of their lives. A big problem is that teenagers brains do not allow them to seriously consider the impact that current actions have long term. Long-term to teenagers means next week.
That's my point, exactly.
What's my expectation of privacy if I'm doing something I shouldn't in a car parked on a public street? Even if the windows are rolled up and the door is locked.
What's my expectation of privacy if the place I'm keeping my "private information" has been sued, more than once, for violations of privacy? Use your favorite search engine (faces the same suits on privacy) with these keywords: facebook privacy law suits -- to see for yourself.
What's my expectation of privacy, if I put my trash beside the street, for garbage pickup?
What's my expectation of privacy, when Homeland Security is tracking Internet activity? When hackers frequently steal what is considered to be the most secure on-line data most folks own -- their credit card numbers?
For the record, I do not have a Facebook account. Nor do I intend to obtain one. To keep up with friends and family (the most often stated reason for using Facebook) can still be done with letters, email, telephone, and yes, even going to visit with them from time to time.
Personally, I'd rather spend a half hour on the phone with my sister (doesn't live close enough for frequent visits) than spending the same amount of time at a keyboard "talking" about the same things.