Facebook Privacy Issues Report

Because Consumer Reports Says So

            It has often been heard or repeated that the social networking site known as Facebook has serious dangers when it comes to privacy, exploited children, and offending one's place of business to the extent of losing one's job. Well despite all the reports out on the internet, many of them are written in a skeptical manner using rhetoric and scare tactics to encourage readers to believe what the journalist wants them to believe. Logic, of course, which we know doesn't always exist on the internet; needs to be personally utilized when needing to obtain information in a responsible manner. Of course writing responsible articles that can be easily understood,  leaving out bias opinion, and rhetoric is the only way to tell the whole truth.

            Last month Consumer Reports dot org published an article Facebook & your privacy: Who sees the data you share on the biggest social network? (June, 2012) online describing the findings of their annual "State of the Net" study. Apparently, Consumer Reports surveyors feel they have an accurate account of what people think and do in regards to Facebook usage after only asking 2,002 American online consumers; of which only 1,340 were actually Facebook subscribers. The estimates are a bit astounding when you consider they took the information from only 1,340 relevant participants speaking for a Website with a subscription base of hundreds of millions, not two, or three, but around 900 million subscribers worldwide with 150 million in the US alone. The journalist even admits that when the survey was taken they used the data gathered from that very small group to project national totals with a 95 percent confidence rate. Really? This is the largest social network that exists anywhere and Consumer Reports  conclusions are based on what 1,340 people have to say about it. That is so ridiculous that those figures will not be even be repeated here.

            The only place with the real answers to the annual state of the net survey questions regarding Facebook users habits on the extremely successful Website would most likely be locked up in the Facebook headquarters somewhere. The journalist claims that Mark Zuckerberg falsely claims that user data is protected, so why couldn't the journalist get the real data he needed instead of polling a small group if it was so easy?

             According to the Consumer reports article, all of your information can be gotten a  hold of through an app by stating, "Even if you have restricted your information to be seen by friends only, a friend who is using a Facebook app could allow your data to be transferred to a third party without your knowledge" (Consumer Reports, 2012). I want to know which app that is, they do not name an app. The article suggests that all apps are bad, by not naming one specifically. I play Farmville by Zynga (which is an app) on my Facebook page; and if you are not my friend I cannot play with you, period! I wish I could I would level up faster.

            As with any online excursion, dangers may exist for non-experienced users in the form of malware. There have been attacks on Facebook, sure; but the company works hard to monitor and control such issues they acquire along with Google and other companies; it's not just Facebook that is susceptible to criminals online.

            The article then goes on to explain how many people share and do not share, with many not even aware there are privacy controls on Facebook, as well as insinuates that Facebook privacy controls are a difficult maze, that the company falsely claims to protect user data, and that dangers exist on the social networking phenomenon known as Facebook. The journalist makes sure to mention the Craigslist killer in the article as well.

            Let's get real folks. when a person signs up for Facebook, the policies governing the Website are displayed in black and white for the user to read before completing their profile information and account registration. If someone wishes not to have data collected about their social networking habits, then they do not have to check the "I accept these terms" box and are free to move on and pay for a subscription to My Life dot com, or somewhere else on the internet.

            In addition, if you do not know how to work the safety features on something you shouldn't be using it. That goes for a Website, a car, or a barbeque lighter. Consumers do need to take the time to learn how to use a Website that displays information and gather's data before signing on. In addition, getting fired or robbed because of Facebook is as ridiculous as is bringing up the Craigslist killer in the article. That was the brightest red herring I ever saw!

            The fact is, if someone is going to act like a jerk and then post it on Facebook for the world to read, they probably deserved to get fired. Such as the teacher who posted a bunch of derogatory remarks about her students on her public wall of display! In fact, Facebook heads up a campaign to stop bullying which now has over a hundred million people (and rising) taking a pledge to end bullying. In addition, there is also an amber alert system in place that has been very useful, as I have experienced its success personally when a friend of mine's daughter was missing for a while, and later found safe and sound at a friend's house in New Jersey. In addition, I met my wonderful fiancé on Craigslist, and I am still alive.

            It is never a good idea for someone to tell the world when they are going on vacation and leaving their home unoccupied, that is why in the old days we put our newspaper delivery on hold so papers wouldn't pile up on the front stoop alerting the whole town that no one has been home for a while. It is the same safety considerations, or lack thereof; that can get one into trouble on Facebook. That is not Facebook's fault. A word of advice to Facebook users, wait until you get home from vacation to post those lovely photos!

            The article also mentions that small and large businesses have seen record increases in revenue due to their using Facebook to advertise, in addition to allowing them more control over their advertising budget by reaching specific target markets; but very briefly. This is the sentence that I want my customers to see!

            The bottom line is that users need to be responsible for their own postings and privacy settings, and as far as children are concerned; there is this thing called parenting that will keep children safe. Children are not supposed to have profiles on Facebook until they are at least 13, after that mom and dad just need to pay attention to what their tweens and teens are doing. Problem solved.

            It is always a good idea, when using any product, to keep up with the latest changes and updates surrounding that product. We all do it for our operating systems and install updates accordingly. It is a good idea to keep up with Facebook news (or any social site announcements) and check personal profile settings regularly; especially after major updates. One excellent way to keep up on internet news in the social online world is to visit the Website known as Mashable dot com. This website is dedicated to informing the online world of massive networking news, and they do it without bias; as is stated in their mission statement in the "About Us" section of their Website. If you would like to visit the Mashable Website just look to the right of this bog, in my live feeds (as they are always on top of all internet news there) and caught up now! do not let a traditional media sway your opinion of Facebook privacy.

Reference: 

Consumer reports Web Site (June, 2012). Facebook & your privacy: Who sees the data you share on the biggest social network?. Retrieved July, 17, 2012 from http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2012/06/facebook-your-privacy/index.htm