Occasionally there’s a Facebook posting phenomenon that takes the world by storm. The Ice Bucket Challenge, for instance, gained momentum as a Facebook-driven effort and ended up reaping tens of millions of dollars for ALS research. In that situation, Facebook served as a galvanizing force – a means through which meaningful work could happen.
But sometimes, Facebook phenom posts aren’t that helpful at all. In fact, sometimes they’re utterly pointless. That is the case with a new posting trend among many users to publicly assert their privacy rights in a Facebook status. Taking the form of a “post it and pass it on” type message, this privacy post movement is significant in the fact that it’s doing absolutely nothing.
There’s No Privacy On Facebook
It’s very likely that you’ve seen the privacy post already, but if not, it’s basically encapsulated in this sentence: “I declare that my rights are attached to all my personal data, drawings, paintings, photos, texts etc… published on my profile.” That assertion, along with a big block of other legal jargon-y text, is appearing on peoples’ Facebook pages across the country. The text states that by including that text in a post, you’re making a clear legal statement that shows that Facebook doesn’t have dominion over your personal data. The problem is, it’s a little late to be making that claim.
See, if you have a Facebook account, then you already relinquished the privacy rights you claim to possess. That relinquishing came the moment you signed up for and activated your account.
“Posting these updates do not, in any way, change your Facebook profile’s level of protection,” stated InsideFacebook, a blog that rigorously documents Facebook news and particularly its privacy standards. “Posting a status update does not change how Facebook governs data.”
Truth is, you already agreed to the way Facebook governs your data – whether you knew it or not. Indeed, everyone who signs up for a Facebook account implicitly agrees to the site’s Data Use Policy. Here are some of the stipulations contained therein:
- Facebook can take data that you provide at registration, as well as things you share with friends, and use that to send targeted ads your way.
- If you use a certain tool or resource that Facebook offers, the site may share that information with your friends.
The Indignation Game
Posting a status update is, in many ways, the most passive way to express indignation out there (that is, if that’s the only thing you do). Yet it’s a means that many people resort to these days. The problem with this method is that privacy indignation becomes a fad, and, like all fads, it’s doomed to die a quiet, unnoticed death.
So stop being indignant and start being proactive. As the folks over at InsideFacebook point out, there are basic security steps you can take to ensure that your Facebook experience is the most secure and private one possible. In addition to highlighting some of theirs, we have some tips as well:
- Run a privacy check! The Privacy Checkup is a relatively new feature offered by Facebook, and trust us, you need to run it. It’s quick, easy, and its gets the basic security bases covered.
- Limit past posts. If you were one of those college over-sharers, or if you’re just looking to be as private as possible, choose the “limit past posts” option under “Privacy Settings and Tools” to ensure that all those embarrassing photos and rants are just kept within the realm of friends.
So follow the above steps, abandon your passive posting, and enjoy as much privacy as you can.
