[ Web 2.0 ]

Are you worried about privacy on Facebook?

Q: Key Point 5: It's like smoking -- you know that someday it might...

It's like smoking -- you know that someday it might damage your lungs but that's too far in the future to be a concern now.

Abe Olandres June 6, 2010 · 1 min read

Listen to article

BPI expands barcode cash deposit service to Robinsons Retail stores Instagram removes end-to-end encryption for DMs Sony confirms Xperia 1 VIII launch date Globe AT HOME offers free upgrades to 1Gbps and Wifi 6 routers to loyal postpaid subscribers HUAWEI WATCH FIT 5 Pro now open for pre-order in PH

I was recently interviewed about Facebook privacy issues for a magazine article and I thought I may have a different take on this but would like to also get the thoughts of my readers here.

Is your personal privacy on Facebook a huge deal for you? I thought that by joining a social networking site, people already expect that most of what they do or share in there are for public consumption.

Facebook has recently changed the way it handles privacy settings though I don’t think a huge percentage of users have really taken a closer look at it.

I think people aren’t too concerned about online privacy until they’ve been personallyÂ affected by it. It’s like smoking — you know that someday it might damage your lungs but that’s too far in the future to be a concern now. What do you think?

React to this article:

facebook philippines facebook privacy social web philippines

Abe Olandres

Editor-in-chief

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

7,991 Articles

View all posts by Abe Olandres →

52 Comments

Linghu Chong · 16 years ago

I’ve got impersonators on FB. Fcuk FB. I hope their offices get destroyed by terrorists!

Herce · 16 years ago

I’m worried about privacy period. Which is why I don’t use facebook. :)

Karl Mac · 16 years ago

Why would you put your private information in a free/public site and expect them to secure it for you?

cArLo_AnGeLo · 16 years ago

@Euan: thanks! I’ll try that. ;]

manong · 16 years ago

a nice twist to this topic is:

can BIR use the information on the web to check if you are paying your taxes right?

can NBI use the information on the web to check your whereabouts if you are a wanted criminal?

i believe those people who need to hide.. don’t join facebook!

shaq · 16 years ago

@Carlo Angelo

i agree with you!

curious_girl · 16 years ago

I have a lot of online acounts like facebook, twitter, plurk, digg etc. and I have an online presence but I make sure that my real name, address, numbers aren’t published online. Sometimes I make use of a pseudonym, one that all my close friends and relatives know me by but one that will not connect to me if by chance a “stalker” googles my name.

I make it a point to check or uncheck privacy concerns in facebook. It’s a chore but at least they have the option.

wyrlo · 16 years ago

As Filipinos now one by one joins a lot of social sites, I think security is important. Ayaw naman nating mangyari sa atin ang mga nangyayari sa US na nagpapatayan dahil lang sa status sa FB or sa twitter.

Here’s a good site to check if your FB account is safe.

http://www.reclaimprivacy.org/

blitzkrieg · 16 years ago

@RJ
While I do respect your personal opinion, I disagree. While Facebook is using personal information and one’s “behavior” to deliver targeted ads to its users, the pieces can easily be put together to complete the puzzle. What I mean is, they can easily use everything in your FB profile and figure out what kind of person you are. I doesn’t sound too dangerous to say they’re just giving you targeted ads. But in reality, these ads are delivered to a user because FB SELLS this information to 3rd party ad agencies. It’s not like FB is a mediator between the user and the agency, wherein FB tells the advertisers “hey just give me your ads and I will display them on my wesite.” And when FB sells this information, the 3rd party can keep this information for as long as they want and nobody is stopping them from selling this information, again.

Euan · 16 years ago

@Carlo Angelo: Try using Lists in Facebook. :D And every time you add your relatives, you should put them under that list. That way, when you post status messages, you can choose to Hide your posts to them (you can even make that a default). :D Ako ang dami kong Lists sa fb, I have lists for Family/Relatives, Workmates, Schoolmates/Friends.. So pag minsan inis ako sa ka-work ko and gusto ko lang i-express sa shoutout, I ha-hide ko lang yun sa mga ka-work ko. Or kaya may gala ako na ayaw kong malaman ng mga relatives ko, iha-hide ko naman sa kanila posts ko. ;)

ZZz · 16 years ago

hoping for an open source alternative to facebook…. an alternative is always a good thing… if diaspora will be good i’ll switch

RJ · 16 years ago

For me, privacy is no issue..
@frogprince28 is right. Media is EXAGGERATING the topic. If I’m in the US or UK, I will be concerned (but not that much) about privacy.. Pero dahil nasa Pinas ako, kahit kunin pa nila yung personal info ko, they will have limited (or no) use of it. :D They may display targeted ads on Facebook based on my browsing activity, like what Google does. But my eye is trained to ignore ads. ;) And its up to you if you click the ads or not. Google or Facebook does not really care who you are, for them you are just a NUMBER in their vast database.

dell · 16 years ago

dapat kunti lang lagay sa info..

Spyware · 16 years ago

dapat lang kaya dapat kunti lang lagay sa info

Carlo Angelo · 16 years ago

And sheesh, you literally have to press enter or in this case, tap the ‘return’ key after typing in your name and eadd in order to be able to post a comment.

-Sent via YugaTech Mobile App

Carlo Angelo · 16 years ago

I’m only concerned that my mom or my tattletale relatives might get to see an ‘inappropriate’ post on my facebook page. That’s why I hate adding up relatives on social networking sites

-Sent via YugaTech Mobile App

jmtv · 16 years ago

I will delete my fb account next month.

drew · 16 years ago

I agree kaya nga pangalan ko lng ang inalagay ko at birthday(month & date), tinanggal ko ung year. All i can say is: Nothing is safe in the Internet.

yizhan · 16 years ago

yeah its really a big deal, but for some people who wants to expand their network should publicize some of their personal info.

Jay Angeles · 16 years ago

“Try not to place too much information online, even if you think it is secured.”

Agree. Facebook helped me get back my account. But back in the topic, I think Facebook should be more stricter (ever) in privacy and security

Teknisyan · 16 years ago

whoa… that was long.. :)

Teknisyan · 16 years ago

Wow… first one here. About the topic.

It all depends on the information that you place on facebook and the reason why you openned an account. If its for family because they’re abroad. Then they probably know alot of things about you, so chances are you did not place that much info online. if for networking, then you can use the information that you place online to your advantage. If other people can take advantage of your information, then why can’t you.

Try not to place too much information online, even if you think it is secured. I a friend that placed her cellphone number on her friendster account, when I talked to her… she complained that she’s been getting a lot of text from someone that she did not know.. seeing her profile.. I said that it’s nice to know that you want to be in touch with your families and friends but I rather not place my phone number online… add that she’s a really pretty and attractive girl. :)

I guess privacy issues does not concern facebook but all web sites where you need to place personal information.