AfterDawn: News

Facebook responds to critics, simplifies privacy controls

Facebook, facing increasing criticism over its new privacy settings, has announced it will be rolling out new simplified settings for users over the next week.

The criticism mainly stemmed from the site making all of a user's basic information available to the public, with no opt-out. The new update will allow users to reduce what is shown to the public.



Additionally, USAToday reports that the new settings will add "an opt-out feature for a myriad of non-Facebook applications."

Says CEO Mark Zuckerberg: "A lot of people are upset with us. One of the big takeaways is: Don't mess with the privacy stuff for a really long time."

Facebook has over 450 million users, and recently became the most trafficked site in the United States, surpassing even the mighty Google.

Last week, rival social networking site MySpace simplified their own privacy settings. Said MySpace Co-President Mike Jones: "Given all the noise in the industry, we want to get out and state a clear position so that our users understand that we take privacy very seriously."

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 26 May 2010 23:08

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• 6 comments

• KillerBug

  I am not even going to bother reading what they changed. They don't care about security, and there will always be massive security holes as long as that is the case.

  26.5.2010 23:16 #1

• xboxdvl2

  Originally posted by KillerBug: I am not even going to bother reading what they changed. They don't care about security, and there will always be massive security holes as long as that is the case. unless your a hot teenage girl or a criminal,gang member,wanted man,trying to hide from people or people want you dead you shouldnt have to worry about facebook and facebook privacy setting.
  

  PS2 with 12 games.
  pc-windows 7,intel core quad Q8400,4 Gb ddr2,WD 500 GB hdd,ATI Radeon HD 4550 graphics,AOC 22inch LCD moniter.

  27.5.2010 03:03 #2

• zarlaan

  Originally posted by xboxdvl2: Originally posted by KillerBug: I am not even going to bother reading what they changed. They don't care about security, and there will always be massive security holes as long as that is the case. unless your a hot teenage girl or a criminal,gang member,wanted man,trying to hide from people or people want you dead you shouldnt have to worry about facebook and facebook privacy setting. Depending on what people post on their Facebook there are way more reasons to be concerned about their security. You could easily build an entire profile on somebody just off their Facebook and do some serious damage either by identify theft, exploitation, stalking and of course pedophiles.

  27.5.2010 19:52 #3

• bmlshane

  I have had to change privacy settings on FaceBook every time they do an upgrade. When I started, FB settings were easy, each upgrade they became more complex, and you had to redo settings, as the new upgrade left your FB open. The Last upgrade, the settings are not easy to find them all, and some were hidden, so you kept getting Ads that you didn't want.
  

  warlock

  27.5.2010 23:40 #4

• xboxdvl2

  i use facebook and im always getting ads on the right hand side and when im playing games on there i get ads above the game.how exactly do you get rid of ads???.
  

  PS2 with 12 games.
  pc-windows 7,intel core quad Q8400,4 Gb ddr2,WD 500 GB hdd,ATI Radeon HD 4550 graphics,AOC 22inch LCD moniter.

  28.5.2010 00:59 #5

• fungyo

  I don't see Facebook ads with Adblock Plus and NoScript

  28.5.2010 08:46 #6