Facebook Privacy: A How-To Guide

Facebook

is a few weeks away from announcing something historic: 500 million users. 

I want you to you think about that number for a minute; as a reference point, there are 300 million people living in the United States. 

Need another reference point? A few weeks ago Facebook had more visitors than Google

! If you don’t have Facebook account you’re in the minority. If you do, well, you’re in for yet another round of changes to your account.

But this time, the changes are good. 

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced new privacy features for the site on Wednesday following a firestorm of criticism. In April Facebook angered users when it opened up our accounts and basically made it difficult to understand what we were sharing. Even Einstein would’ve needed help to understand the 170 different settings. 

The newly announced controls are simpler but don’t think for a minute that your information is private. Facebook believes you want to share information with your friends, and it’s “on” by default -- after all, you signed up didn’t you? This time around you have “turn on” the level of privacy you want.

The old set-up had a wall of text that was difficult to navigate, the new controls are laid out nicely in a simple to-read chart. To access your new and improved settings head on over to the account tab in the upper right hand corner of your page, then click “privacy.”

Here’s how it all breaks down: 

Everything you post is now in your control. That’s a big improvement and that means you can choose exactly who sees every post you make, down to that cousin you want to avoid. 

Now to the setting you’ve all been waiting for. A new simple on/off switch that turns off access to your information by third party sites and Facebook partners. Critics argued that Facebook made it nearly impossible to find this functionality before Wednesday’s announcement. Count me as one of those critics. 

Another important change is the user directory. Prior to the announcement I could search for Alyssa Milano and get information about her hometown, favorite activities, etc. Not that I was looking, but if I were, I’d now only see her name, gender, profile photo, and networks. So much for snooping.

Facebook is finally back on the right track with these changes. After all, no one wins with a convoluted approach to privacy.

Facebook claimants vow to continue legal action

The two Americans who were awarded millions of dollars after claiming they had come up with the idea for Facebook say their legal battle isn't over.

Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss studied at Harvard University alongside Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, where they started a site called ConnectU.

In 2008 a protracted legal battle between the two sides ended with the payment of an undisclosed sum.

Facebook said that that it now considers "the matter concluded".

The Winklevoss twins spoke to the BBC on the eve of the Boat Race, in which they will both row for Oxford.

Cameron Winklevoss refused to confirm the extent of the 2008 settlement - thought to be $65m - but said: "I think it is safe to say the chapter is not closed on the matter."

Social network shock

His brother Tyler said: "It's our duty to stand for principles. We're willing to wait around and make sure that's what right has been made right."

The two brothers started work on ConnectU in 2003. They thought that computer science student Mark Zuckerberg was working with them, until he launched a similar site called thefacebook.com.

Mr Zuckerberg's site became hugely popular on the Harvard campus and then, under the name Facebook, turned into a global success.

"It was really just a sense of shock," said Tyler Winklevoss. "It turned into how can we right this wrong."

The settlement of the battle between Facebook and ConnectU involved the award of Facebook shares to the Winklevoss twins.

The continuing dispute appears to centre on the value of those shares in a company which has not been publicly floated.

In a statement about the dispute Facebook told the BBC:

"The settlement has been enforced by the courts and attempts to delay that decision have been denied twice.

"We hope that discussion of spurious and false allegations and other matters that were concluded years ago are not distracting anyone from their preparations for the race. We consider the matter concluded."

The brothers also revealed that after years of avoiding the social network they themselves have joined Facebook.

"We weren't on it for a long period of time," said Cameron Winklevoss. "But it's a utility and we're deserving to take part in that. It's a great way to keep in touch with people back home." 

Thanks To: http://www.bbc.co.uk/