Analysis Of Hoback By Cullen Hoback

Terms and conditions may apply by Cullen Hoback (2013) is a documentary that makes people aware of the possible implications of posting online. The documentary discusses the problems with Facebook privacy and exposing information when using different social networks. Certain characters speak about how their information was used against them (Hoback 2013).

Hoback (2013) is a film that opens with an animation before adopting the conventional documentary style of live-action. It is a good example of how animation can tell a story about terms and conditions.

The animation compares the ‘real world’ with the ‘digital world’. The ‘real world’ is simple and straightforward with short terms and conditions, making it easy to follow (seen in Figure

The character gets agitated with all the advertising surrounding him. The terms and conditions are long and tedious; therefore the character does not bother reading them and just signs. As it is the digital world, this would pertain to a website or another digital platform. Therefore, the signature is easily duplicated and used across the entire continent of the US (symbolising people’s use of websites). All the people that the character has been in contact with (digitally) are analysed to a point where the FBI are suspicious of the character’s habits.

This animation is a good animation that generally addresses terms and conditions and how it has changed throughout the years with technology. The character goes through his own experience making the viewer relate to the visuals. Camera footage, doctors endorsing their medicine and services, dodgy and weird places to buy goods are many ways one can be influenced by terms and conditions. This shows terms and conditions need to be addressed in a more specific way. This gives the opportunity to use Facebook as the focus where multiple animations can be made for people to make sense of the ToS

This customised way of advertising can infringe on privacy. In Hoback’s (2013) documentary Terms and Condition may Apply a secretly pregnant female liked baby items and pages on Facebook. Not long afterwards targeted advertising suggested pages she may like. Family got suspicious which then forced her to tell them she was pregnant. She was not ready to tell them, but Facebooks’ targeted advertising told them for her.

Setting one’s Facebook account to ‘Public’ allows other Facebook users, who they are not ‘friends’ with, to view their profile. However, this setting also allows people who do not have Facebook to search them online.

4. When you publish content or information using the Public setting, it means that you are allowing everyone, including people off of Facebook, to access and use that information, and to associate it with you (i.e., your name and profile picture).

The compulsory ‘Public’ information, consisting of a Facebook user’s name and profile picture, is currently available for Facebook and non-Facebook users alike.

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