The online world is hopping about a rumor that Facebook is planning to give third parties access to user information, such as phone numbers and home addresses. Many Facebook users are expressing shock that the company is looking to monetize their personal information. These people are probably also staunch believers in the Tooth Fairy, trickle-economics and go rushing for a dictionary whenever someone tells them that "gullible isn't actually a word".
It's very simple: Facebook is a business and their goal is to make money. They make money through advertising and selling virtual goods. The more of your personal information they can mine, the more likely their advertising will result in revenue for Facebook and their clients. Facebook provides hundreds of millions of people with a wonderful platform for sharing photos, news, links, videos without charging its users... but it isn't a charity.
Some use Facebook accounts for business purposes, building brands and professional networking. Most use it for social reasons like staying in contact with family, friends, acquaintances, people you have never met, unrequited high school crushes, etc. If you have information that you want to share with only some friends but not others, then either don't place it online or assume that whatever you place online will eventually become available to everyone. If you don't want your contact information distributed, then don't provide it in your profile. If you don't want everyone to see that video of you breakdancing naked in the park, then don't put it online. If you do post that video, then assume it will be distributed to the entire online world.
What about privacy settings? You need to set them. It's your responsibility and no one else's. Facebook wants you to share as much as possible since it helps them monetize your account. Consequently, the default settings tend to be "opt-out" rather than "opt-in", knowing that most people don't review their privacy settings. When you add applications, you are authorizing that program to access your data so if you want to be cautious avoid applications.
You are responsible for what information you post about yourself, the Facebook friends you link to, the privacy settings and the applications you use. You can minimize your exposure by not uploading anything you don't want the entire world to see, by friending only people you actually know, by reviewing the privacy settings and by avoiding applications that use your private information.
Alternatively, you can convince yourself that a huge for-profit company whose business model is based on monetizing your personal information really wants to protect your privacy. For readers who believe that story, did you know that you don't get any hits when you Google "gullible"? Really, go ahead and try it.
Author's note: For information on improving your Facebook privacy, please see this article.
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Al Franken: Facebook's Proposed Privacy Plan Puts Users at Great Risk
Perhaps an opt-in option would be better.....but why no outcry for the many other businesses that do the same thing? (Credit cards, insurance, home/auto loans, etc.) FB seems to become demonized for all of this when the very same thing has been standard operating procedure for decades now.
Always felt SNL had a low IQ quotent - now I am convinced!
But that is what it is - A TOOL. Like any other, you need to use it properly. I read rants all the time about the evils of FB and how people will post anything and are so rude or about information sharing..
Anything I post, I ask myself- are you ok with EVERYONE you know (including my mom!) reading it?
Anything I post, I ask myself - would you say this to the person's face? If not, don't post it!
And last but not least- I do not friend ANYONE I don't actually know personally, I don't put my address, phone number or any other information on my profile that I wouldn't want the whole world to see - and I frequently maintain my account by checking settings, etc. to make sure they reflect what I want them to.
I have NEVER had a problem using FB in this way. But its my responsibility- if I don't like the way it works, I shouldn't use it. But if I take responsibility and control how *I* use Facebook, then it doesn't use ME!
But you are totally correct in the statement that privacy is our responsibility. Facebook was started when Mark Zuckerberg thought it would be cool to steal personal information, make it public and allow others to make fun of people based on that stolen personal information. The very titillating nature of knowing secrets about someone else is the fuel that Facebook runs on. I choose not to run down the street naked. Why would I choose to expose myself on the web?
Taking a picture on a phone or camera does not automaticly put it on your Facebook page, nor can Facebook log onto my camera and take it without my knowledge.
(1) There is a BIG difference between "what you tell Facebook, Inc." and "what Facebook, Inc. promises (cross my heart, etc., but no more) not to tell any other _subscribers_ except your 'friends' (sic)." If you give the information to "Facebook, Inc." AT ALL, then who now possesses that information? "Facebook, Inc."
(2) There are no laws at this time regulating what Facebook, Inc. can and cannot do with the information that you voluntarily gave them. Granted, they are not stupid, but there are no laws.
(3) The imperative for "practice sensible privacy on the Internet" extends to many things ... including e-mail and even HuffPo postings. Imagine that you are saying, whatever you say, at a podium in the middle of the Super Bowl. Granted, there are no brilliant spotlights shining upon you, but every word that you utter will not only be heard by (or be within the hearing of) millions of others, but it will be preserved for all time. Christina Aguilera will be hearing herself flub the National Anthem from now until Kingdom come, and there's zero that she can do about it. The same is true of anything, and e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g, that flows from your fingertips into the global computer network.
Caveat Surfer.
Things change, especially if you bite the hands that feed you.
I last night I saw on a friends kids page (she is 16 now I think) where she actually posted " I am so borred, 'rents are out for a "date night"--EWWWWW. My cell is boke so all I have is the dumb dog, and hes deaf"
Talk about asking for trouble.