K.i.s.s. (keep It Simple, Stupid) – Facebook Needs To Simplify Privacy Policies

I’m an avid (or maybe I should say rabid) Facebook user. I use the social media site to keep in touch with my family and friends, I play Scrabble, I post articles and web links that I find interesting, I post photos, and I update my status at least once a day.

Last week I noticed that several of my Facebook friends had posted the following message as their status: IMPORTANT!! FB Privacy heads up!! Watch your personal information: As of today, there is a new privacy setting called “Instant Personalization,” which shares data with non-facebook websites, and is automatically set to “Allow.” Go to Account > Privacy Settings > Applications & Websites and UN-CHECK “Allow.” Care enough to copy & repost!!

Frankly, when I saw the message, I thought it was likely incorrect – just another internet rumor spreading like wildfire. However, today both the New York Times and USA Today ran articles noting that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s vision of making the social-networking giant more visibile on the internet was being met with opposition by some powerful politicians including Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.; Michael Bennet, D-Colo.; Mark Begich, D-Alaska; and Al Franken, D-Minn. The senators are asking Facebook to simplify its privacy controls as it makes user data more widely available on non-Facebook web sites. They are particularly alarmed with a new Facebook feature that lets non-Facebook websites post the personal views of Facebook users without their consent. They also object to changes that made a user’s current city, hometown, likes, interests and friends publicly available, where they were previously only seen by friends.

Now the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is planning to examine the issue.

Facebook could have avoided a barrage of negative publicity and government intervention had they made their privacy policies simple, transparent and consumer-friendly. While Facebook may define its new “feature” as public information, users want to be able to control who can see their information. And, they shouldn’t have to hire a lawyer or a programmer to figure out how.

By: Jill Z. McBride

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Jill founded JZMcBride & Associates in 1996 to provide marketing, direct marketing, public relations and event planning services and consultation. More than a decade later, the firm serves an impressive roster of consumer, business-to-business and non-profit clients. Jill's contagious energy, personal involvement and extensive industry knowledge infuses every endeavor of the group in order to help her clients grow.