Bit by bit, as Facebook works to monetize (make money) off those users, it’s stripping away users’ privacy, exposing more and more of their information.
Some Facebook users are up in arms and pledging to leave Facebook. Recently on the site QuitFacebookDay.com, 11,000 people committed to quit Facebook. Clearly, 11,000 out of 400 million is a drop in an ocean, but the unrest seems to be growing.
Some people join Facebook to connect with family and friends. Some, like a lot of authors, join to promote themselves and their books. I’ve only been on a short time and am still trying to get the hang of it. Frankly, if I’d heard all the controversy about privacy, I might not have signed up. But it is another tool for writers to market themselves and their writing.
If you are one of the people unhappy with what you thought were your private information and pictures being used by Facebook to make money and you want to quit…how do you do that?
Here’s an article on CNN Tech that tells you exactly how to remove yourself from Facebook. The article by Elinor Mills is called “How to delete, deactivate your Facebook account.” It also explains the difference between deleting and deactivating an account and gives lots of links to find more information on the goings-on at Facebook.
Any of you upset with Facebook’s use of your private info?
It is upsetting that they would use your private information without telling you. As for me, I don't have a lot of private information on my Facebook account. I've tried to keep it very simple. I know some people who have answered every question they ask and went into great details. For them, this could be a big problem. I'm wondering what they are really going to do about it. Thanks for the link.
ReplyDeleteMason
Thoughts in Progress
Like Mason, I didn't fill in the private information but most people do. I do understand having to monetize the site, but I think they are going about it the wrong way.
ReplyDeleteI do have some private information on my Facebook account, but I've also got just about every privacy safeguard they have there as well. I have a Facebook page for my public writer face, but the profile is mainly used, as you said, for connecting with friends and family.
ReplyDeleteOne website that was really helpful for me in evaluating how much my privacy was protected is this one. It has some great tools.
http://www.thehappyaccident.net/three-ways-to-help-protect-your-facebook-privacy/
Thanks, Miriam, for the link. The more tools you have to protect yourself, the better.
ReplyDeleteI think the best thing to do is to not put your full name, address, cell or home phone # and anything of too private/personal a nature on FB.
ReplyDeleteI think the only thing I put in that I'd now like to change is my birthdate, but I haven't figured out how to do it. Facebook won't let me into that now.
ReplyDeleteI agree with writtenwyrdd, and never give all my info out. If a phone number is a required field, I'll put in the number of Time just to bypass it. I haven't joined fb, but thanks for the privacy alert.
ReplyDeleteHelen, if you go to acount, privacy settings, personal information and posts, birthday, customise, and then click only me, it will not display birthday to anyone.
ReplyDeleteYou can customise every setting. I looked after reading this post. Thanks for the prompt, Simon.
I also think if we're online to promote ourselves then there's always a risk our privacy will be compromised. My banking has been compromised and I'd expect that to be secure. Personally, I don't mind some details being available, not contact and family, but schooling and interests is okay. People want to interact with a real person. In my profession I have to be transparent and real. I have big dreams, so media an social attention will come with that.
ReplyDeleteI agree Simon. Clearly, some info is public. There have been a couple of times when someone sent a message that they want to befriend me and I click on their name to see who they are and they've hidden just about everything. And I wonder, who are they?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the help. I'll go see if I can hide my birthdate. Frankly, I'd like to remove it altogether. It allows Facebook to know who to send my info to for advertising to me.
I haven't joined Facebook yet. There's just not enough time for me to add one more thing. Is this one time I should be glad I'm not in the loop? :)
ReplyDeleteYou can see it from the tailored commercials that Facebook use your personal information. Bastards they are.
ReplyDeleteMake sure your Facebook content is only accessible for friends, and be careful when posting pictures. Set access for friends only, don't include friends of friends.
Cold As Heaven
Thanks for the words of warning. I need to check what I filled out on Facebook. I do like that I've been able to touch base with people I haven't seen in years. Great post!
ReplyDeleteJemi, there's been such flack about the info Facebook is giving out that they're pulling back a bit now.
ReplyDeleteGood advice, Cold as Heaven.
G4 (Tech TV) also showed viewers how to delete their account.
ReplyDeleteGlad I don't have one!
I am careful when using Facebook but I know many young people in high school and college aren't. I enjoy making connections most of the time but I often go days without being on there.
ReplyDeleteI never put pictures of my family on there.
I'm with you, Susan, no family pictures.
ReplyDeleteI am an author and enjoy blogging and Twitter, and have held off joining Facebook. Now I am glad I didn't sign up for it. If they straighten out the privacy issues I may sign up one day. Now I am going to read all the comments here.
ReplyDeleteOnly because I think its cheesy. The cheese g=factor is what insults my intelligence, which BTW may not be difficult to do LOL. When I see an add on FB for a man my age in my city, I know that info was taken directly from my FB profile. Cheesy.
ReplyDeleteStephen Tremp
Cheesy indeed, Stephen!
ReplyDeleteI am new to FB too...and am still trying to figure out the best way to make it work for me. Privacy does worry me. I enjoy being in touch with some old friends...others, acquaintences from so long ago I can hardly remember have friended me and I wonder why. Then I get into this quandry...am I rude if I ignore? That's off topic though. I've tried to keep most things private, knowing that there are so many other ways that advertisers know what I am up to.
ReplyDeleteI always try to make sure that my privacy setting are set to the way I want, but I'm guessing some technophobes may not take the time or understand how it all works. If the site warns you well in advance what they're going to do and gives you the chance to protect yourself, then... fair game!
ReplyDeleteI may not get many friends, Liza, since I'm rarely on FB. I go on when I get an email saying someone wants to friend me or one saying someone has commented on my wall. Lately, I'm so busy with editing and coaching that I barely have time to vacuum the house. (OK, I don't actually mind missing out on that.)
ReplyDeleteI think this is like anything else on the Web. One needs to be careful about what is put out there. I don't have anything very personal on my Facebook page, nor do I put that kind of info in any of my updates on Facebook or Twitter, or even the lists I belong to.
ReplyDeleteBecause I see this all as part of my business as a writer, I try to keep the professional boundaries I would have were I in a real office. Well, actually I am, my own real office, but I think you know what I mean.
Yes, I'm definitely one of those people. But with Congress mumbling about investigations, Facebook seems to be trying to clean up its act. Let's hope.
ReplyDeleteTotally know what you mean, Maryann.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Elizabeth. I think and hope Facebook is backpedaling and changing what it was doing.
Helen did you see my post on Friday? Your book is in the iBookstore!
ReplyDeleteSeriously? Which one? Hey, my husband has an iPad. I'll go look for it. Woo-woo! Thanks, Alex.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Maryann, like everything on the internet you must be careful. For me FB has been too important for contacts to leave. I'm in Egypt at a writers residency right now- thanks to FB.
ReplyDeleteYes, it concerns me. I don't like it that your facebook profile now follows you to other unrelated websites. You are automatically opted "in". You have to go into your privacy settings and opt out. That is just wrong. They present it as an enhancement to your browsing experience. Right.
ReplyDelete