Facebook + Google+ = Google+ + Facebook?
It’s only fair that if Google is going to make their +1 buttons more like Facebook Like buttons that Facebook make their status update sharing options more like Google+ Circles, right? Facebook is releasing new product features stating they are responding to privacy concerns that have taken quite a bit of heat for in recent years. “You should never feel like stuff appears there that you don’t want, and you should never wonder who sees what’s there,” Facebook said on its corporate blog.
Now, users can limit individual status updates to “friends,” “friends of friends,” or custom-designed lists of particular people as well as the option to post pictures and updates as “public” for all to see, and just like Google+, specific friends can be tagged so they see the update. The inline profile controls save users from endless hidden clicks to get to their privacy settings, rather pulls the options to the forefront. Facebook has demonstrated these new features in a short video on their site.
Good: tag review. Bad: tag anyone.
The social network is also rolling out profile tag review and content tag review that allows you to approve or reject when someone tags you before anyone else sees you tagged in it. This is helpful not only for questionable drunk pictures but for viruses over Facebook that have used peoples’ profiles to tag others, enticing them to click on whatever link is offered in the update the spam/hacker made public. Although users can now review when they are tagged, anyone can be tagged in any post or pictures, not just friends. This seems counterintuitive to the privacy issues this rollout is looking to achieve. Although there is an approve/reject system, “Tag Anyone” leaves a major vulnerability for abuse in the network.
Lastly, Facebook is making is the “View Profile As” button which sits atop your profile page and allows you to see what your profile looks like from other peoples’ accounts so that you are more sure of your privacy settings. These updates will be rolling out in the coming days to all users.
