I’m delighted to get back some control over my privacy settings in Facebook. Unlike Facebook’s founder, I believe I own my relationships, and I should be in complete control over who gets to see what.
Having said that, I’m upset that Facebook forces me to waste so much time monitoring my privacy settings and profile options. And just when I think I’ve got it under control, they go and change something.
I was shocked to learn (via the NYT) there are >50 places to toggle specific privacy settings in Facebook. I’m still overwhelmed at the complexity revealed in the May 12 New York Times’ infographic about Facebook’s privacy options. If it wasn’t obvious before, this infographic makes it clear that Facebook sides with the advertisers’ needs over those of the millions of people who entrust their personal information to Facebook pages and friendship networks.
Speaking of complexity…
And then there are the application settings, especially if you want to block unwanted apps or games that may be meaningful to your friends, but not to you. Farmville addicts with nothing better to do can clutter up your wall really quickly…
It took a few days, but I’ve finally learned how to block the unwanted posts about hungry, lost or neglected animals.
Sigh. It shouldn’t be so hard…