Privacy has long been dead. Mark Zuckerberg didn’t steal it.
Recently a tiny fraction (a very vocal fraction, I must say) of the online community worldwide has been getting itself all upset and feeling indignant about the privacy issue on Facebook.
Funny how people don’t realize that privacy has long been dead.
I, for one, will not leave Facebook, come 31st May, when 3377 (at press time) Facebook users severe ties with Facebook, one of the most visited websites on the internet (at present, the most visited website in the United States, and the world’s top social networking site and most visited mobile social network).
I am not leaving, because despite having 3377 people pledging to quit Facebook, there are still over 400 million people on Facebook I can interact with, and Facebook still remains a very effective way to reach the masses in Asia Pacific. (Well, social media is my job.)
But I digress. The truth is this: Facebook, now branded as the evil privacy thief (and Mark Zuckerberg the king of the thieves), is no different from a blog. Except now you have fixed pages for you to post stories on, fixed albums for you to organize your photos in, a proper ‘biodata’ page to plonk in all the information you might ever want people to know about you, and a section to list all your likes and dislikes. Plus, you get to play games, shop online, get news, get updated with your friends’ lives, conduct business, make announcements, and a whole lot more you never thought it would be possible to do on a single site.
Facebook is a blog. A structured blog. Within a big big community.
So what makes it so “private”? Because in the first place, they give you the option of restricting access of content to people you want to give access to. And suddenly, you discover maybe things are not so private anymore because now you realize that Facebook mines data from your profiles, and your contacts’ profiles, if you don’t fix your privacy settings. [cue slight uproar]
Then came Open Graph, a whole new way of looking at ‘social sharing’. [cue major uproar] And this just tipped the bucket, I suppose. Websites like Gizmodo started making Top Ten lists of reasons of why people should quit Facebook. Two really passionate (and I always say this, passionate people are biased – I know I am) Canadian men started a website to get people to pledge to quit Facebook come 31 May.
Okay, so the reasons and arguments presented on websites like Gizmodo sound logical and are compelling. But that’s just good writing. The way Steve Jobs (or his PR people) wrote the article that convinced many that the iPhone really doesn’t need Flash. And as the old adage goes: the pen is mightier than the sword. If you write well (if you have a way with words), you will win the battle.
And as another old saying goes: There are two sides to every coin.
So don’t be caught up by the arguments presented in the lists you see on the internet that are written by brilliant writers who make a living of writing articles to convince people to buy products and services. Have you heard Facebook’s side of the story?
But again, I digress. My point is this:
If each Facebook user had the gumption to put on Facebook only what they are comfortable in revealing on the internet, we wouldn’t have this problem and this whole unnecessary uproar over a privacy issue that never existed (because privacy simply doesn’t exist in this information age). What makes the content you publish on Facebook so differentiated (in terms of privacy) from the content you would put on your blog?
Do you publish notes, random thoughts, photos, email addresses, names of friends on your blog? Chances are, you do.
So why this uproar over Facebook using these data to make your user experience better? Why the uproar over how they use this data to customize what kind of advertisements appear on your Facebook sidebar? Why the uproar over how Facebook makes everything super social, when you accept, from the start, the fact that Facebook is a social networking tool?
In my opinion, there really is no case at all.
If anything, Facebook users need to learn how to: exercise gumption and exercise discretion. And if you don’t know how to do that, perhaps the rest of us on Facebook won’t miss you being on it anyway.
And for the record: Privacy? That’s long gone. If you can’t live with it, you might want to completely stop using the internet completely (and that includes your email).
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[...] daphnemaia.sg » Privacy has long been dead. Mark Zuckerberg didn’t steal it. daphnemaia.sg/2010/05/18/privacy-has-long-been-dead-mark-zuckerberg-didnt-steal-it-facebook – view page – cached Recently a tiny fraction (a very vocal fraction, I must say) of the online community worldwide has been getting itself all upset and feeling indignant about the privacy issue on Facebook. Tweets about this link Topsy.Data.Twitter.User['daphnemaia'] = {“photo”:”http://a1.twimg.com/profile_images/201427926/hellokittyicon_normal.jpg”,”url”:”http://twitter.com/daphnemaia”,”nick”:”daphnemaia”}; daphnemaiaInfluential: “[Blog @ daphnemaia.sg] Mark Zuckerberg did not take your privacy. Privacy has been dead for a long time. http://bit.ly/bpnhhz ” 20 minutes ago view tweet retweet Topsy.Data.Twitter.User['daphnemaia'] = {“photo”:”http://a1.twimg.com/profile_images/201427926/hellokittyicon_normal.jpg”,”url”:”http://twitter.com/daphnemaia”,”nick”:”daphnemaia”}; daphnemaiaInfluential: “Mark Zuckerberg did not take your privacy. Privacy has been dead for a long time. http://bit.ly/czCXTP – MY THOUGHTS: http://bit.ly/bpnhhz ” 27 minutes ago view tweet retweet Filter tweets [...]
Agreed. With a combination of web-savviness and common sense, privacy is no longer an issue. When you put yourself onto the web, expect to be found. And stalked. Now that’s flattering.
In any case, you can now check how “secure” your Facebook date is
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/check_your_facebook_privacy_settings_with_reclaimp.php
Oh, you went a little crazy with all the linking, no? Link juice much?
Razlan: Thanks for ur comment. That was definitely a useful link. Will share that later with my Twitter followers!
Anyway, do you know that some people actually still have the “OMG but I didn’t tell anyone about my website how did they find me oh no!” kind of mentality? It’s sad, but true.
And yeah, I was reading everything to write this article and just linking them everywhere. HAHA. It’s good for people to read what I have to say, and also read others’ opinions on the issue!
Sorry to disagree with you on this one.
The vast majority of people are not web savvy. They do not read Mashable, check their privacy settings via widgets or read the terms and conditions that come with signing up to a site like Facebook.
Facebook has been adopted by such people because it is easy to use, appears “secure” and feels like it can be trusted to store and share our personal information and data.
This is about web citizenry – and to be “citizen” you need to be fully informed.
@ Gavin – To be a citizen is to be fully informed, and to be informed is the responsibility of the citizen, not the providers of services they choose to subscribe to. Facebook has always been upfront about their privacy settings and changes. It is up to us, the web citizen, to decide to stay or go.
And there is no need to be sorry to disagree. We all have our own opinions, don’t we?
I dont see what the big hoo haa is all about. You put information, pictures and whatnots online, you deal with people viewing it.
If you’re so scared about it, DONT upload.
This morning, when I read your post, I thought I’d be first to reply. Good to see a conversation forming here. My long-winded reply to Daphe is here: http://agroovyweb.com/2010/05/18/facebook-its-not-privacy-you-are-losing-but-your-consumers-rights-and-control/
@Razlan I am with @Gavin here. Not everyone is as savvy as us and we don’t expect them to be. A lot of people have yet to use the internet beyond their email’s inbox, googling and reading. We cannot assume that everyone is on the same page as us. Definitely not for a marketing viewpoint.
A fine example, the uncles and aunties I have seen with an iPhone, how many actually knows functionalities beyond the keypad for dialling or the occasional sms?
@ Isman – If the uncles and aunties know how to get on Facebook, do we expect Facebook to handhold them in “guarding” their date? But you have a valid argument, that we are losing our consumer right, though in this case we are “passive” consumer since Facebook does not earn anything from us but from advertisers.
My stand remains that, if you know how to get into something, know how to stay in, or know how to get out.
I won’t expect not be bombed in a war-ridden country if I choose to visit, relying on the government to protect me simply because of a decision I make. A poor analogy, but you do get my point.
Oh, for the love of God don’t waste the money to get iPhone if one is going to use SMS and call only. What a waste of money.
@razlan: i wanna get an iPhone so i can take digital lomo pictures using the hipstamatic iPhone app!
lol. ok, and I also want to play games! 
Point #1
Uploading my photos/information into Facebook does not constitute that Facebook has the right to auto opt-in users to share it with developers whenever they have a new feature put into Facebook.
They should give users the opt-out by default or let them choose upon login.
Point #2
I thought I have turned any photos or information I deem as private, private, but when I tried to use Reclaim Privacy (http://www.reclaimprivacy.org/) I found out that most of my information is still public.
No,w thanks to Reclaim Privacy, I have make them all private. If such a Non-profit organization can make it easier for me to know what’s leaking, why not a billion dollar company like Facebook?
If Facebook is so upfront about it, or tried very hard to enable all options to help users protect/control their information, even for someone who’s so active on the tech news as I am (twitter.com/cdableu), then I believe they have failed.
Must I hire a Privacy Consultant to do this for me, like all the SEO consultants out there to push my website ranking higher? No, Privacy is a basic human right and one does not pay for this.
There’s the issue that’s causing people to be wary of Facebook. Were you even following the F8 conference? Do you know what’s F8?
Maybe you do, now. The same ignorance applies to everyone, even for someone who’s in the social media sector.
Please read:
http://www.news.com.au/national/police-tell-teens-to-remove-facebook-photos/story-e6frfkvr-1225867471110
@ cdableu – Those interested in this issue can be broadly categorised into three groups:
Group #1 – Those who care about the privacy of their data, and wish to protect it from strangers
Group #2 – Those who care about the privacy of their data “somewhat”, but have little qualms about sharing more online
Group #3 – Those who don’t care who see what they share online, and have wish to protect only a small part of their shared data
Just because someone is in one group which is a very vocal minority (like what Daphne had pointed out), does not mean the others are ignorant. Whether the so-called ignorants are in social media sector or not are beside the point.
Everyone has different circumstances which renders them “unsecured” online and exposed to different risks. Knows yours, practise common sense, and be vigilant.
Just because someone is unfortunate enough to be one of the very few victims because of Facebook does not mean tragedy is about to befall 400 millions others.
I think I am one who will stay on Facebook, and those who think it is silly for me to do so, I am more than glad to see the back of them.
Leave Facebook if you must, but don’t belittle those of us who support them. Our lives today would be different without Facebook.
It also doesn’t mean I cannot protect those who doesn’t know and not be misunderstood because someone misinterpret the Facebook issue here (for all I know its a hot issue and blogging this issue could draw surfers here as well but thats debatable anyway).
Ignorant as your are, that happened to that girl is not one of ‘very few’, the link I showed is one of many hundreds of thousands.
If you know your maths, thats one in 4,000. In a country of 5 million Singaporeans, thats 1,250 victims, an thats only for cases thats being reported.
If people know how to manage their privacy more, that would leave more resources for police to concentrate elsewhere.
Know your issues. If be-littling is all you can see.
@ cdableu – Let’s agree to disagree. You shall continue to promote that people should leave Facebook for their evil-doings, and I shall continue to encourage people to do what they can to protect themselves on social networks.
Oh yes. Many hundreds of thousands of cases? I must have missed reading so much news. Pardon my ignorance, but you gotta agree there are many stupid people out there.
wah Jason Lim, what audacity. you come to my blog and call me an ignorant twerp, and tell me i know nothing of what is supposed to be my job.
yep. okay. and u’re the expert! cool.
@Razlan – If you read all my comments, never once I said that people should leave Facebook, I am pointing out that you guys got the whole damn issue wrong.
@daphnemaia – if you cannot take criticism, you aren’t fit to be in the social sector. And turn off your comments or set it to Admin Review or something.
Anyway peace out, I’ve made my point and I’m still with Facebook thank to Reclaim Privacy in restoring the confidence to control my information in Facebook.
Pleae note that Facebook did not in anyway made it easier for me to protect my private information and was on the verge of leaving Facebook because I still think I did not manage/control my information in full knowledge.
By the way, did you guys even try Reclaim Privacy? If yes, how did you fair? I got caution for No. 2 & 3, and a warning for No. 4. Good for No. 1 and 4.
You can leave the expert remark to Reclaim Privacy, they deserve all the credit.
Yup, I did. #1, #3, #5 and #6 are secure. But I never get a result for #2 and #4. I love to share, but only with people I choose to know. Had always known that because I know what I am sharing, at a level of confidence of which I am comfortable with.
if i can’t take criticism, Jason, i would’ve deleted ur comments.
i just called u an expert. what’s wrong with that?
BTW Jason, I have scanned it. And I’m fine with whatever’s being exposed cos I’m aware that I publish those things.
I’m social, I don’t mind sharing information.
@Daphne – I did not use the word ‘ignorant’ to criticize you in personal. You quoted a lot of post from other blogs talking about the whole issue but what you pointed out is only the tip of the iceberg. The underlying issue is what I have laid out in my previous comments.
Everyone including the non-tech savvy understood that when you use a service provided by a corporation, you indirectly agree to their way of operation and everyone is fine with that.
The problem begins is how Facebook’s operation is indirect to make it more transparent for people to manage their information as well as the ‘auto opt-in by default’ configuration. That’s the issue.
Not only misunderstanding this perverts people understanding from this two problem but you made them focus on the problem that everyone already understood and Facebook is well prepared to face with.
As a social media person, you have to understand that there is weight and influence in what you introduce and you are considered a trend setter, if you mislead people, you will harm a lot of people. Thats the responsibility you take when you have such an influence on people. As for me, it would probably take more than 10 comments and 10x more people to meet before I make my point forward.
Thus the frustration when I read such an article from you.
Heh. It doesn’t mean I don’t understand it. I chose to highlight what is most relevant and of most concern to most people.
Auto opt-in is nothing new on the web. Not just practiced on Facebook.
And you overestimate my influence, surely! I work in Social Media but my blog doesn’t have the kind of traffic that you speak of.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with what I’ve written. Like I said, writers use their way with words to their advantage. I’m a writer too, and this is used to my advantage because it highlights what bothers me (about what people have been saying on the internet). That’s all.
You may not have used the word “ignorant” but ur words sure tell me that you think I am.
No offense taken, however. That’s an opinion, and everyone is entitled to an opinion.
@ Daphne – All things considered, that is a show of respect from Jason at the “authority” that you have. He has certain principles and beliefs in this issue, and when your post clashes with them, he voiced out. This is a healthy discussion, one which shows both side of the issues.
It is now up to the silent readers (you!) to decide what is best for them.
Now I wish my blog posts have such exciting discussion! Then again, what do you expect from a personal blog, right? Haha.
@daphnemaia, trendsetter. Whoa!
I am thankful that we have the mutual understanding. The information in this discussion is of course limited to those who does not read the comments.
For that, they can’t be helped in this case.
Then again, Daphne can always play the Devil’s card by purportedly writing such an article. Razlan, its one of the strategy of bringing people to comment on your blog.
To be frank, I also disagree with Daphne on the Apple’s stand to remove Flash from their OS but that happened in the tweets.
Caution though, it can always back-fire.
By the way….
Facebook Will Soon Release “Simplistic” Privacy Controls – http://j.mp/bF5f7M
lol i have no motive in writing this blog entry! it’s just an outlet for me to vent, honestly.
if ppl find value in it, it’s all good. comments are great cos it’s gd discussion for people who read it n participate.
but getting people to visit my blog is a secondary or possibly even a tertiary concern to me. i have nothing to gain of it. no ads, no sponsored reviews / advertorials, n i no longer attend blogger events (unless as a favour to a friend). see?
blogging, for me, is not what it is for many others…
Back to the issue, one death is already enough, we don’t need a holocaust to start the ball rolling
You guys should watch ‘Band of Brothers’ and the currently showing ‘The Pacific’.
The basis for Human Rights today is brought about by what happened in World War 2. Sadly, sometimes its being misused for personal gain. Iraq, Google vs China, China’s Sweat Shop, Industrialization, South Africa…all these being argued as so debatable.
I would like to title this article, ‘Zuck it up Mark!’:
http://gizmodo.com/5542183/theres-discord-brewing-at-facebook-hq
They already had the tools.
Facebook is not friendly to warn or to direct people about their changes of privacy which they need to educate the users the risk of what they are signing up for. What people are upset was they allow 3rd party to use their resources without the consent of the users.
[...] of fire for simply being in line with Zucks’ vision of Facebook and the internet: open. But I see where Zucks is heading (an article I wrote back in May 2010 which sparked a bit of a discussion in the comments section). [...]
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Daphne Maia
Coffee Addict, Hello Kitty aficionado, Social Media junkie. Full-time digital marketing strategist at a Singapore interactive agency, part-time blogger, lives and breathes Social Media!
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