It all started when Facebook changed their Terms of Service to effectively say that anything you share on Facebook Facebook now owns.  The fallout online and in various social media circles over the privacy issue was huge.  Several Facebook groups popped up protesting the changes, one with over 64,000 members.  Various websites and news sources picked up the story, including The Consumerist,  NY Times, Chicago Tribune, CNN and MSNBC…just to name a few.  Also, it was one of the most talked about topics on Twitter, it even prompted twitterati like Peter Shankman (@skydiver) to tweet things like ‘Ouch: Facebook to 170 million users: “We own you, bitches.” ‘

Despite blog posts from Mark Zuckerberg and co. attempting to explain why the switch was made the outrage continued.  The posts actually made very logical points.  The problem: It’s our guess that the majority of those people so angry about the changes didn’t bother to read them.

Well, yesterday Facebook went back to their old Terms of Service…at least for now.  They are still planning a change, but this time they are asking for input from users, using the newly created Facebook Bill of Rights (currently at 42,210 members and growing rapidly).  A much smarter strategy from a public relations standpoint.  If there was anyone left doubting the importance of social media and it’s role in public relations this should serve as their cue to embrace it.