Facebook is a social networking website for people to stay connected with friends, family, and business associates. Facebook is now the largest networking sites with approximately 500 million users (Myers, 2010). There are many reasons why Facebook made it to be the largest networking sites. It is very simple to operate, users can simply create a profile page and friends can easily search for them via email addresses. Users can upload and share unlimited photos, update their status, write on their peers 'wall', countless of applications to add onto your profile and more.
However, the world most popular networking site has been recently dodged by complaints regarding privacy protection. Facebook has admitted that some of its applications have been transmitting user information to advertising companies (Facebook admits privacy breach, 2010). Popular applications in Facebook were found accessing its users' profiles and acquiring their information, and even their friend's information. Facebook's response towards the issue was to assure users that they will introduce new technology to overcome the violation. Moreover, applications that contravene its terms will be disabled.
However, the questions that arise the minds of many would be, are we being too comfortable about sharing our privacy on Facebook? Is it safe to do so? Should the younger generation be educated about this subject? Are Facebook users aware that all their updates posted on the website for their small group of friends can be viewed by anyone through the Internet search engine? Although users can choose to customize privacy settings in their profile, many users were not aware of that and hence, revealing personal information without acknowledging it (Herald, 2010).
Nevertheless, with all these growing complaints concerning the users' privacy, Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder of Facebook finally announced that the social networking site's privacy settings will very soon be simplified (Herald, 2010). However, according to Heather Kelly (2010), these Facebook apps that are secretly added to your profile without you knowing cannot be stopped by just checking a few boxes in your privacy settings. While it is still not entirely apparent that what information are these apps trying to acquire from users profiles, Facebook users should be careful. Click on the following link to learn how to block these blameworthy applications: How to block Facebook applications.
Let us all surf safe, and surf smart!
Till next time!
ABC News. (2010). Facebook Admits Privacy Breach. Available: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/19/3042594.htm. Last accessed 13th October 2010.
Heather, K. (2010). Facebook's New Features Secretly Add Apps To Your Profile. Available: http://www.macworld.com/article/151087/2010/05/facebook_addingapps.html. Last accessed 13th October 2010.
Herald, D. (2010). No privacy: Your indiscreet Facebook updates are now public. Available: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/75864/no-privacy-your-indiscreet-facebook.html. Last accessed 13th October 2010.
Myers, J. (2010). What Is Facebook?. Available: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-facebook.htm. Last accessed 13th October 2010.
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