Not too long ago Facebook changed it’s privacy policy yet again, implementing an new feature that was designed to automatically share your profile information with third-party websites like Pandora. This, along with the fact that this is sharing is turned on by default for every user, has once again put Facebook under the gun from critics.
A recent New York Times report states that there nearly 50 settings and 170 different options that you have to manage in order to properly control who gets to see your information. At 5830 words, the 2010 privacy statement is longer than the US Constitution (not including amendments), and the more in depth Privacy FAQ that Facebook offers tops in at over 45,000 words. In comparison the Privacy policy for Twitter is only 1203 words.
This hash of cryptic privacy settings and options that would almost take a Harvard law professor to understand, has prompted a growing chorus of sites offering “how to…” guides and videos for controlling your privacy settings or even how to quit Facebook all together, like this video from the Huffington Post.
Zuck: Yeah so if you ever need info about anyone at Harvard
Zuck: Just ask.
Zuck: I have over 4,000 emails, pictures, addresses, SNS
[Redacted Friend's Name]: What? How'd you manage that one?
Zuck: People just submitted it.
Zuck: I don't know why.
Zuck: They "trust me"
Zuck: Dumb fucks.
was spending more time managing my account than actually using my account.