Mood: a-ok
Topic: Action networks = success
Facebook is in trouble again because its privacy settings do not work for all users. It raises the key issue, again, about what is private information on a social network.
Facebook is getting grief because it is open with our privacy. It is a moot point for me whether we are expecting too much accountability from Facebook in terms of our privacy. We offer up our information to Facebook and they share it for us. If we simply think of Facebook as a modern verison of the old schoolyard rumour mill or grapevine then we know how to act. We only share with Facebook what we want to share with everyone in the world. Simple.
Facebook is open and will share our information with everyone. Where the problem arises for me is that Facebook is not necessarily transparent. We offer our information to be shared but it is not always clear how Facebook cuts and dices the systemic information it gleans about us. If as they claim they are not using the systemic information they have on each of us - our likes, dislikes, membership of groups, etc - then we have nothing to worry about at Facebook. It they use such data to drive their revenue models and thus to sell us stuff then we do have issues to raise with Facebook's management.