New Privacy Tutorial Explains Settings on Your Facebook Profile Page, But What Personal Information Does the Website Keep?
Facebook has launched Privacy Basics, a click-through tutorial that shows what people can see from your profile, reports CNNMoney.
In May, Facebook appointed a blue cartoon dinosaur nicknamed the "Zuckasaurus" to teach users about privacy. Although the social platform has not made Zuckasaurus' performance review public, if the social site's new privacy tutorial is any indication, he may not be meeting goals.
Now, the new Privacy Basics interactive training program instructs users about blocked parts of their profile from public view, limiting who can read posts, and deleting posts.
The tutorial also sheds light on the complicated matter of adjusting your News Feed. A common complaint from Facebook users is enduring inapplicable advertisements, updates from friends they don't want, and online posts they deem politically offensive.
Facebook Privacy Fixes
Here's a list of some privacy fixes available on Facebook:
- Unfollow friends whose News Feed posts are annoying
- Add friends to "Close Friends," giving them more relevance
- Give more personal information to receive personalized ads
- Click on ads you like so Facebook can tailor ads to what interests you
- Block content from particular websites
Personal Data Facebook Collects
Facebook's data policy clarifies what user data it collects:
- Your personal Facebook activity
- Things that other users post or say about you
- Information on apps that you connect
- Details about the devices you use (unique device ID, device settings, phone number, hardware, Internet provider, Web browser, operating system)
User Information Facebook Shares With Advertisers
Facebook will only say that it shares "non-personally identifiable information" with advertisers. The company offers this example: "25-year-old female, in Madrid, who likes software engineering."
Facebook says it won't share information that "by itself could be used to contact you or identifies who you are" with advertisers, such as a name or phone number.
When CNNMoney asked Facebook if it shares other information, like your unique device ID, with advertisers, the social media giant did not say whether this less direct data is shared. The indirect data is valuable and could be used to identify users.
"We help advertisers reach people with relevant ads without telling them who you are," Erin Egan, Facebook's chief privacy officer, wrote in a blog post.
What Happens to Deleted Data On Facebook?
The online social networking service has not answered the troubling question of what happens to deleted photos, messages or accounts.
Privacy Basics states, "You won't be able to access your account again," referring to account deletion, but it says nothing about what, if anything, Facebook still has access to.
Facebook also updated its data policy, disclosing what user information it collects and how that is shared. The new policy is open for public comment over the next week.
Subscribe to Latin Post!
Sign up for our free newsletter for the Latest coverage!