Facebook on firefighting mode, makes privacy settings more user friendly
Facebook has redesigned its privacy settings by consolidating all of the primary controls on one screen.
Following the recent backlash over data breach involving Cambridge Analytica, Facebook is in damage control mode. The social media giant is now making its privacy settings more prominent than ever before.
To be clear, many of these settings and features already existed, but Facebook is now making them significantly clearer for the average user to find and use.
“These updates are about transparency-- not about gaining new rights to collect, use, or share data,” stated Erin Egan, Chief Privacy Officer, Facebook.
Facebook said it has redesigned its settings menu for mobile, consolidating all primary controls on one screen. It is also making it clear what can and cannot be shared with apps.
“We’ve also cleaned up outdated settings so it’s clear what information can and can’t be shared with apps,” Egan added.
For those who don’t want to dive into their settings, Facebook said, it is also going to put in a new item into its menu, directly linking users to privacy settings.
Privacy Shortcuts, Facebook said, will come by way of a few taps and will let people add in two-factor authentication; composite access to what you’ve shared via Facebook with the option of deleting if you choose; controls for your ad settings, which will also include an explanation of how ads work on Facebook for those who might want to know more; and a link to help you control what and how you share on the site — that is, the setting of “public, friends only, and friends of friends.”
Again, this control has been in place for years already at Facebook, but many don’t know how to access it, or what it means. Putting it a little more front and center might change that.
To be clear, many of these settings and features already existed, but Facebook is now making them significantly clearer for the average user to find and use.
“These updates are about transparency-- not about gaining new rights to collect, use, or share data,” stated Erin Egan, Chief Privacy Officer, Facebook.
Facebook said it has redesigned its settings menu for mobile, consolidating all primary controls on one screen. It is also making it clear what can and cannot be shared with apps.
“We’ve also cleaned up outdated settings so it’s clear what information can and can’t be shared with apps,” Egan added.
For those who don’t want to dive into their settings, Facebook said, it is also going to put in a new item into its menu, directly linking users to privacy settings.
Privacy Shortcuts, Facebook said, will come by way of a few taps and will let people add in two-factor authentication; composite access to what you’ve shared via Facebook with the option of deleting if you choose; controls for your ad settings, which will also include an explanation of how ads work on Facebook for those who might want to know more; and a link to help you control what and how you share on the site — that is, the setting of “public, friends only, and friends of friends.”
Again, this control has been in place for years already at Facebook, but many don’t know how to access it, or what it means. Putting it a little more front and center might change that.
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