Why No Outrage about Facebook’s Privacy Settings?
Posted by Allison Fine on April 29, 2010
Have you ever been sure that something was going to happen, a movie was going to be a big hit, a diet was going to be the next big fad, people were going to march in the streets, and they it wasn’t and they didn’t? That’s how I feel about the recent changes to Facebook’s privacy settings.
When they were announced a few months ago – to an opt-out system for your data rather than an opt-in one – I expected a huge outpouring of outrage and protest. Three years ago, Facebook users protested so loudly about the Beacon advertising system that Facebook reversed course. And yet, in a huge reversal of default settings there’s hardly a murmer. Why?
What’s really worrisome is that rather than a user and citizen revolt, we have Senators, politicians!, threatening legislation to protect user privacy on social networks. What could be worse for our networked world than politicians fooling around with privacy settings.
Boing Boing has a great post on the timeline of Facebook’s privacy policies. In short, they have gone from here in 2005:
No personal information that you submit to Thefacebook will be available to any user of the Web Site who does not belong to at least one of the groups specified by you in your privacy settings.
To here in 2010:
When you connect with an application or website it will have access to General Information about you. The term General Information includes your and your friends’ names, profile pictures, gender, user IDs, connections, and any content shared using the Everyone privacy setting. … The default privacy setting for certain types of information you post on Facebook is set to “everyone.” … Because it takes two to connect, your privacy settings only control who can see the connection on your profile page. If you are uncomfortable with the connection being publicly available, you should consider removing (or not making) the connection.
It’s the default setting that is the operative phrase here – we’ve gone from private to public for the benefit, really, of Facebook not users.
So, where’s the outrage? Are we numb to the concerns about privacy? Have we just reconciled ourselves to the fact that the only way to keep sites like Facebook free for end users is to sell their data? Really, I don’t know, would love to hear what others have to say.
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This entry was posted on April 29, 2010 at 1:32 pm and is filed under Social Media. Tagged: Boing Boing, facebook, privacy settings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
10 Responses to “Why No Outrage about Facebook’s Privacy Settings?”
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Shannon said
Also considering the level of vitriol spat at Google when Buzz launched, I too am surprised. I can only draw one of two conclusions: either Facebook users aren’t as concerned as Google users about their privacy, or everyone already expects this from Facebook and have exhausted their outrage. For my part, I will be using Facebook even less than I did before, and I hardly used it before. I considered deleting my account, but it is still the only way to easily keep up with a large circle of friends, family and colleagues, unfortunately.
KSL said
As long as I have the choice, I’m ok with it.
I actually prefer to be “targeted” by products or services that suit me.
I take responsibility for setting my privacy levels and so should each user.
The idea of legislation over this communication form is nauseating, but it’s coming.
No way around it. The thing is once they get their mitts all over this platform
and rule us to oblivion we’ll make a new way to get back to good. No worries.
Keep the faith.
@KSL
epatientgr said
my impression is that the large masses of Fb users have not yet grasped what it is all about. From experience speaking, the average user does not fiddle much with settings because he doesn’t know/understand how to, prefers default settings. How a FB newbie could understand all this?
Only if there is buzz in lay realy lay terms. In my opinion this has not happen. Lots of people do not understand what’s like is all about now, they believe it’s another word for become a fan.
Allison Fine said
I think you may be right which creates a very interesting dichotomy. The people most upset, the digirati are the folks most likely to know what to do about the problem, while the less informed, perhaps less facile with social media, who most need information and advice are least likely to get it.
Allison
sueannereed said
I agree that it seems like the vast number of Facebook users don’t seem to understand what the new privacy settings really mean. Facebook has been really good (in a bad way) of stepping up how much of the personal information they are sharing and doing it in a way that people don’t actually realize what’s being shared.
They’ve also buried the opt-ins/opt-outs in numerous areas, so even if you change the privacy settings in one place you may still be opted-in to share your information in another.
As a marketer, I’m torn. I like that Facebook is making it easier to connect with brands. I’m interested to see how it all sorts out.
epatientgr said
Yes, this is a problem for the big mass of less knowledgeable users, and I know a lot, they are happy just to jot down a few thoughts or messages and have no idea what FB does with their data and stuff.
Of course, the digirati as Allison puts it are the ones who complain because they understand about what they complain. People need to be explained why it is not proper/ethical for FB to do it and then to explain how not to fall in the trap. Then, I believe a considerable percentage of users will follow.
Jeff said
This is more or less the same information made public by Twitter. Are you similarly outraged about Twitter?
Healthy life|become health and happy – Health Contempt – exposing the U.S. health care scam! said
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Mike said
My take on the new Facebook privacy settings:
http://psoug.org/blogs/mike/2010/05/28/the-new-simplified-facebook-privacy-settings/
Allison Fine said
Thanks, Mike!