Even though Facebook rolled out new privacy control tools to its U.S. users that ostensibly should make it easier for users to figure out what they’re sharing with which people, it seems things are still complicated enough to confused Mark Zuckerberg’s very own sister, Randi Zuckerberg. She was a bit ticked off recently to find that a photo she’d shared on the social network was viewable by a stranger — who subsequently reposted it on Twitter. [More]
Data & Privacy
It Was Only A Matter Of Time: Instagram Hit With Civil Lawsuit Over Terms Of Service
By 12.26.12
While many of us were hanging our stockings with care on Monday evening, Facebook and Instagram were facing a far less cheery Christmas present in the form of a proposed class action lawsuit filed in a federal court in California. Nothing says “Happy Holidays” like a little legal action against a ginormous social network, right? [More]
Facebook’s New Privacy Controls Rolling Out Soon: Here’s What’s About To Happen
By 12.21.12
There are plenty of times we’re critical of Facebook — the $1 message from strangers plan, launching auto-play ads — but with its new privacy controls it’s actually kinda sorta seems like the social network is (dare we say it?) making things easier for users. The new settings have rolled out globally and will be hitting U.S. accounts soon as well. They look like they’re easy to navigate, so, high five there, Facebook. [More]
Instagram’s Most Followed User Kim Kardashian Might Totally Break Up With It
By 12.20.12
Despite the backpedaling Instagram performed on Tuesday night in the wake of a widespread backlash against its controversial new terms of service and privacy policy, the social media service is still facing the prospect of losing a lot of users. And if it loses its most followed user, things could be even worse. Do you really want Kim Kardashian to leave and possibly take a chunk of her 5.7 million followers with her, Instagram? Well, do ya? [More]
Facebook Announces Another Change To Dislike: Letting Strangers Pay To Message You
By 12.20.12
One of the positive things about Facebook’s messaging system is that you can set it up so that only users you are connected to can send messages directly to your inbox. But now Facebook is testing a service that lets marketers pay to have you receive their messages. [More]
After Backlash, Instagram Backpedals A Bit On Changes To Terms Of Service & Privacy Policy
By 12.18.12
Yesterday, the folks at Instagram, the Facebook-owned photo-sharing service, announced upcoming changes to its terms of service that raised concerns about privacy and content-ownership. With some users already talking about deleting their accounts, Instagram has issued a maybe-we-didn’t-think-this-through update. [More]
So Here’s How You Delete Your Instagram Account
By 12.18.12
If you’re among the many Instagram users who are taking to the Internets to grumble about the photo service’s new terms of service and privacy policy, both taking effect Jan. 16, you might be considering the next and final step — deleting your account. The bad news is it’s the only way to keep your photos out of the hands of Facebook advertisers. The good news is, it’s easy to do. [More]
Facebook Really Wants To Be Hated, Will Launch Auto-Play Video Ads In 2013
By 12.18.12
You know how much fun it is when you’re browsing the Internet and you get to a page where a loud video starts playing while you frantically try to stop it or mute your computer? Several hundred million Facebook members should prepare themselves for this thrill when the site launches auto-play video ads next year. [More]
FTC To Investigate What Info Data Brokers Are Collecting & Selling About Consumers
By 12.18.12
You may remember earlier this fall when Facebook’s new partnership with data broker Datalogix spurred privacy advocates to ask the Federal Trade Commission to investigate. Now it looks like Datalogix, along with eight other data brokers, will be going under the agency’s microscope. [More]
Don’t Like Instagram’s New Terms Of Service & Privacy Policy? Quitting Is The Only Way Out
By 12.18.12
It seems like every week users of social network Instagram have been seeing more and more changes, all leading the service down the merry path toward becoming more and more like its parent company, Facebook. There was the Twitter card break-up, followed by the revelation that yes, Instagram would get ads. And now the service has updated its terms of service and privacy policy in ways that might see a whole lot of users fleeing for good. [More]
Facebook: Yeah, We’re Totally Going To Put Ads In Instagram Eventually
By 12.12.12
If you thought Facebook was going to acquire photo sharing service Instagram and not try to make any money off of it or otherwise change it for the worse, well, you’re either very naïve or you don’t know how the Internet works. Sure, users’ information can serve as currency for companies like Facebook, but making money by slapping ads into the social media mediums we love most? That’s just good business sense. [More]
Facebook Wants You To Vote On Policy That Wouldn’t Let You Vote On Future Policies
By 12.4.12
Facebook is at it again, this time asking its users to vote on some new changes to its data use policy and statement of rights and responsibilities. The kind of stuff that you might ignore, if you didn’t know that allowing the changes would mean you can’t vote on policy changes in the future. Users have until Dec. 10 at 3 p.m. ET to vote, and so far most people aren’t in favor of the changes. Surprising. [More]
Chef Who Said Customer Must Enjoy Vomit Apologizes & The Two Are Now BFF
By 11.29.12
As is so often the case with hastily posted outpourings of vitriol on Facebook, the chef at the Boston restaurant who called an unhappy customer “fat” and said she must enjoy vomit if she knows what it tastes like in order to compare his food to the substance, has apologized. Or rather, someone has apologized on the restaurant’s Facebook page. [More]
Posting That Legal Notice In Your Facebook Timeline Doesn’t Do Anything To Protect Your Privacy
By 11.26.12
With hours to go before Thanksgiving, Facebook sent out a little e-mail last week alerting users to some proposed changes to the company’s privacy policies. In response, a number of users have copy/pasted a supposed legal notice they think will protect their status updates and images from being used commercially. It won’t. [More]
Relationship Pages Means Couples Can Go By “We” On Facebook Just Like In Real Life
By 11.13.12
Let’s make this clear right off the bat: It’s totally acceptable and normal to refer to your relationship as a “we” when the situation calls for it. But we all know those couples who seem to have shed any pretense of separate identities and go around “we’ing” the bejeezus out of every conversation. That’s now possible in online world with Facebook’s new “relationship” pages starring you and your main squeeze as the happy “we” that you are. [More]
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Banned From Boost Mobile’s Facebook Page For Telling Other Customers How To Get Actual Help
By 10.30.12 — Updated: 11.2.12
Nick likes Boost Mobile, but he needed some help from the company. He tried to call them, but was cast into phone-prompt purgatory. He sought solace and support from other frustrated Boost customers on their Facebook page, and the admin scolded him for “spamming” the page. When a simple Google search turned up a number where he could find a live rep, he shared this information with the masses. And got banned from the company’s Facebook page. [More]
Facebook Stock Price “Soars” To About Half Of What It Was Worth At IPO
By 10.24.12
When describing Facebook’s stock price, the words of the day appear to be “soar” and “surge,” when they should probably be “reality check.” [More]
Facebook’s New App Rules Means Your Content Consumption Can’t Be Automatically Shared
By 10.11.12
Facebook got in some deep doo-doo with the Federal Trade Commission for allowing users’ “Likes” to be turned into marketing tools in Sponsored Stories, and now it seems they’re trying to make up for it. In a new post on the Facebook developers blog, the company says apps will now need user permission to share user content as they’re consuming it. [More]
