How to maximize Facebook privacy options…
The phrase “Facebook Privacy” has a couple of layers that I’m going to try and deconstruct.
The first, and the more oxymoronic layer has to do with the data-whoring that occurs between Facebook and it’s partners. First, know that all of the information you contribute to your own Facebook profile, becomes the property of Facebook. Second, know that Facebook shares this information with anyone (or any corporate entity) that is a third-party partner. Unfortuneately, a complete list of Facebook’s third-party partners is unavailable, but sometimes you can get hints through the “sponsored polls” that sometimes pop up on the mini-feed. Third, know that Facebook direct advertises based on your digital demographics. And Fourth, know that everytime you add an application, you are sharing all your Facebook profile information with those third-party developers. Sometimes these apps are created by existing and reputable websites… sometimes, these apps are created by “Joe” or “Brian” or “Sally”… and what they are doing with your Facebook profile information is unknown.
Not only is the information and content you upload part of this shared data, but also the interaction that occurs between the profiles… how active a user you are, who your connections are with, how many groups you are a member of, how often you look at your ex-boyfriend’s profile… all the information that shows up on your mini-feed which tracks and records your movement on Facebook.
As a user, at this level, there is really little you can do to protect your privacy… Though you could, I suppose, enter in all false information, friend strangers, and completely misrepresent yourself and your interests… but that kind of defeats the purpose of having a Facebook account now doesn’t it?
Most people don’t really care about the protection of this type of data. In this way, “privacy” is really just a word with no real meaning… or rather, the word is defined by Facebook in terms of who is and isn’t allowed access to the data.
However, I’ve heard a number of stories from people who are very concerned about the other layer of Facebook privacy. That is, the information they can keep private from other users. The biggest example of this being in the realm of employment… potential employers checking out Facebook profiles and determining hiring based on that profile, and existing employers using Facebook to keep tabs on their employees.
Some people get furious when their privacy is violated by employers, or any individual or institution using Facebook to get insider information on them. Though, it’s difficult for me to understand this, because of course employers, individuals and institutions are going to use all of the resources available to them to protect their own interests… that’s just the way it is. In fact, the whole concept of “Internet privacy” to me is a laughable one.
But, there are ways to put up a line of defence between the virtual representation of your self and anyone checking up on you who doesn’t have Facebook “clearance”. The privacy settings on Facebook are actually quite impressive. And in about 15 minutes you can be sure that all those drunk pictures of you that your friends keep uploading, and the curse words in your status updates, and kept well away from prying eyes.
First of all, ever wonder why you can view some non-friend profiles, but you can view others? The overall profile settings allow you to decide who can and can’t see your full-view profile. If you click on the “Privacy” link along the top of a Facebook page you are taken into the master settings. Click on “profile” and the first drop-down menu allows you to choose between… “all of my networks and all of my friends” (which is ALL of the networks that you are associated with on Facebook and all of your friends) “some of my networks and all of my friends” (which is everyone in your main network, usually your city network, and all of your friends) and “Only my friends” (which means only the people on your friends list can see your profile). The last option is ideal, if you are worried that the contents of your Facebook profile could be accessed and viewed for purposes that it isn’t intended to serve, such as potential employers.
As you scroll down the page, you see you can set this option for all of the little things in your profile, including tagged photos of you and all the individual applications you’ve added like “Human Pets” or “Vampires” or whatever silly quizzes and weirdo things you can do on there. Some privacy options also include ”everyone” which means that everyone with an Internet connection can view that aspect of your profile.
The next tab is “Search”… tired of getting friend requests from everyone in your high school who seems to be just searching Facebook using their yearbook? You can make it so that no one can find you in an Facebook search. This option also makes you disappear from other people’s friends lists.
The News Feed privacy options allow you to remove your actions from your own profile mini-feed and the news feed of your friends, so that no one (other than Facebook of course) can track your movements or get alerted when you write on people’s walls or change your profile information.
Now, when you poke or message or send a friend request to someone they can see parts of your profile, but not your whole profile. Which parts of your profile you want them to see is up to you, and can be set in that option.
Now this is all good for keeping your information protected from people who aren’t on your friends list… but what about those people who are on your friends list that you don’t want to delete, but do want to limited the information they can see. For example, you don’t need your mother seeing pictures of you doing shooters off a strippers belly. Or, your boss sends you a friend request and you don’t know whether to accept or not, but think if you don’t accept, they will think you have something to hide… This is where setting up a “Limited Profile” comes in handy.
The Limited Profile option allows you to choose which friends can see your whole profile, or just the parts which are appropriate for your mom, or your employer. If you use Facebook for both personal and professional communication, the limited profile can allow you to fragment your identity into these two parts…
The default settings on the Facebook privacy options are open. So if you haven’t taken the time to go in and change them, you are leaving yourself open to data double misuse or misinterpretation. As a user of these sites, it is important to explore the “privacy” and “terms of service” for them… and unless you do, the only blame to fall if you don’t get that next job because of that subversive group that you joined, or a pic of you partying, falls on your own shoulders.
Hi,
Thanks for the informative and complete information. I note that your post is dated December 07. Has anything changed? The reason I ask, is I want to share this on a Facebook group I admin and I don’t want dragged into the privacy quaqmire. Been there, don’t need it again.
I would be interested in knowing how you view facebook culture in general, but especially around this issue of privacy.
I found about five members in the group I admin (200 members now) who had set their privacy options so restrictive that I had no way to contact them other than blasting the entire group. We discuss controversial issues around religion and I don’t feel right about having people lurking with controls set to the point where they cannot be contacted. Besides it seems to me there is a broader issue. The general scheme of facebook is to help people make personal connections and build networks. I would challenge these people to try and join the NRA, or even the United Way if all they are willing to share is their name and nothing else. I would try to get them to dialog with me, but alas, they are too aloof for words.
If I open a discussion on my group would you be willing to share your expertise on this issue by becoming a member?
Thanks
Rich Collins
[...] thinking about Facebook’s privacy policy for a while now… trying to encourage users to maximize their privacy settings, and informing them of their rights when they upload content to the site… In fact, I was [...]