Facebook: Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid.

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Facebook: Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid.

Posted by: Matt Tags: facebook, privacy, security, Social Posted date: April 25, 2010 | No comment

Privacy on Facebook is about to go away. This is clear now. Recent announcements at f8, the Facebook developers conference, have shown this to be true. Facebook wants to mine users data and sell it to the highest bidder.

Facebook, fundamentally, has one problem. They sold a cow and want to deliver a horse. There isn’t anything wrong with a horse but people wanted – and expected – a cow. I’m sure that the horse is fast and healthy. I’m also sure, it will take people a lot of places. But, people just wanted the cow!

Horse? Cow? What?

The cow that was promised is complete control over privacy. The horse that is being delivered is almost the complete opposite.

In my mind, this is a huge problem for any business. You can not promote certain features and then strip those features out after you have built up a user base. Especially, when it comes to privacy.

Walled Garden

The behemoth that we know as Facebook started as something entirely different. When a lot of us joined Facebook, it was a safe, walled garden. Facebookers were free to share pokes, wall posts, pictures, etcetera, to their hearts content. They could do this without the fear of unwanted people looking over their wall.

Privacy is what attracted users in droves. The problem is that it attracted users but not advertisers. No money.

Facebook started taking the odd brick out of the wall. This gave advertisers a chance to peak in on Facebookers and start marketing to them.

The advertisers loved it. Facebookers started avoiding the spots in the walls with the bricks removed. The advertisers wanted more holes. Facebook wanted more money. Soon, more holes started appearing in the walls and Facebookers tried putting the bricks back into the holes.

Goodbye Privacy

Whenever Facebook makes changes to its privacy settings, these changes become the new default setting. Most users are unaware that their photos, that were once locked up privately, are now visible to the public.

If you joined Facebook and left your privacy settings as “default” then your privacy changes every time Facebook makes a privacy change.

The “default” privacy settings are slowly being set to none. If you have never made any changes to your privacy settings then you might be surprised at how open your profile is.

Whose Watching Your Back?

It’s a sad state of affairs when you force your users to a point where they constantly have to watch their own backs. And, if you’re not, then you should be.

If you are a Facebook user, you should review your security settings often. Don’t think for one minute that your Facebook data is as safe, and as private, as it was when you signed up. Especially, if you have been using Facebook for a while.

When Push Comes To Shove

Facebook needs to think about it’s users. One day they may push back. People are already starting to jump ship. Of course, there is probably at least 100 people joining for every one that quits.

I used to think the Facebook abstainers were of the tin-foil-hat ilk. However, I’m starting to agree with them. If Facebook does too many more privacy shuffles, I might jump ship too. I really don’t like having to worry about what is happening to my privacy.

What are you thoughts on Facebook privacy issues? Are you concerned?

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Image Credit: cc licensed flickr photo shared by Balakov

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About the author

Matt
I'm Matt and I share how to build an internet presence through internet business, social marketing, lifestyle design and productivity tools. While here, read about me to learn my story or find out how you can hire me.