Overview
In this article, written by Amy Wang for The Washington Post, a lawyer rewrites Instagram’s “Terms and Conditions” so that children can understand what they are agreeing to. There are a lot of kids on that app, some even younger than 13, which is the age limit to create a profile on the app. Once the lawyer rewrote the terms and provided a copy to the kids in the study, there opinions completely changed. It made more sense, they knew what they were agreeing to, and some kids decided that they didn’t like what they read and wanted to delete their profiles. These kids did not know what they signed up until it was explained to them in words that they could understand. These “Terms and Conditions” are provided to save the company from legal issues; they do not really care if the users understand them or not as long as the company is protected.
Why I Chose this Article?
I’ll be honest. I chose this article because I felt “called out.” In the wonderful 10 years I have had free reign of the internet, meaning my parents didn’t watch every move I made, I can genuinely say I have never read a “Terms and Conditions” agreement on anything I have signed up for. This is not a proud moment for me, but it brings realization to me. Of course, I, along with millions of others, am not going to read something that small and that long. I don’t care; I want to play the game or scroll through pictures, or whatever it is that is “in” right now.
Another reason that I don’t do it is because I don’t understand half the things they say. It’s like reading Moby Dick or sitting in a lecture with an 80 year old monotonous man teaching. Why try when you know its a waste? So, this article made me think: Hey! I can understand it if it is in layman’s terms. I don’t have to try then; it’ll be short, sweet, and to the point.
The Argument
My argument for this round is: Yes, I suppose that more people would read the “Terms and Conditions” if it was understandable, but that they are so used to just ignoring and agreeing that it might be difficult to get them into the habit of doing so. I think that they will become more informed about the products they are using if they are capable of understanding what the product represents and does.
Support
Since the dawn of technology, more or less, companies have been doling out their legal information to cover their company from lawsuits and things. It was annoying then, and it’s annoying now. Practically no one unless they are lawyers are reading these things. “A Deloitte survey of 2,000 consumers in the U.S found that 91% of people consent to legal terms and services conditions without reading them. For younger people, ages 18-34 the rate is even higher with 97% agreeing to conditions before reading”(Cakebread, Business Insider). Meaning, even if the terms and conditions came in an easy-to-read notification, people are not going to to take the time to read it.
But unfortunately, it is still long and “unnecessary.” (By unnecessary, I mean that people don’t read them so what’s the actual point?) “A recent study [mentioned in Ars Technica] concludes what everybody already knows: nobody reads the lengthy terms of service and privacy policies that bombard Internet users every day. Nobody understands them. They’re too long, and they often don’t make sense” (Kravets).
Against
Perhaps, if the “Terms and Conditions” were understandable, people would be more aware of the things they agree to and thus, be more concerned about the items they are using. A study was conducted at the York University in Toronto and the University of Connecticut. The Guardian wrote an article about the results stating: “‘By clicking Join,’ they read, ‘you agree to abide by our terms of service.’ Hundreds of college students tapped the big green “Join” button to become members of NameDrop, a new social network. But according to paragraph 2.3.1 of the terms of service, they’d agreed to give NameDrop their future first-born children” (Barreby). Giving up your first-born could be an eye opener. Some may still not care– college kids, you never know what to expect. So, maybe, if it becomes understandable, they will take the time to read it. People could develop a habit of reading them, but I think they need to have an “eye-opening” moment for that to happen.
Conclusion
My conclusion is simplified in an article found on Business Insider: “Of course, consumers don’t have much of a choice. If they don’t agree, they don’t get access to the wireless network, new app or whatever it is they want to use — and there’s nothing they can about it” (Cakebread). Regardless of whether you read the terms or not, and regardless of whether you agree or not, in order to use the product, they have to accept it. There is just no way around it. However, I think that it would be better for the individual users to be able to have access to the terms and also be able to understand them.
Society and Information 