Facebook Encourages Users to Lie as a New Privacy Measure

Yet another company more interested in their personal greed than in an individual's privacy. Remember the other companies that tried this; ie.: AOL/ICQ and others?

damn, since those supposedly previous private info has now gone public; what sort of privacy are we still talking about here except the privacy of getting off totally from facebook - after all, they breached their own privacy terms where unfortunately victimized users are with no recourse to redress grievances other than being left unfortunately victimized.
definitely facebook will never have no way redeeming the damage done, huh - damn, facebook, indeed is.

Facebook, AOL, Bebo, and all the others are interested only in protecting their legal behinds. Thus, if your privacy is violated, then it's your fault, not theirs. Why didn't you lie to protect yourself, they'll say. Pffffttt!

Facebook's new settings opened up all of my personal information and I hadn't found out until I clicked on someone else's profile who had always been on private. I am disguisted by Facebook's disregard for my privacy. I am a young girl and I don't need my pictures or personal information available to every Tom, Dick, and Harry on the internet.

Totally agree!! Absolutely HATE the new privacy settings!! I didn't even realize that my profile was viewable to the public after the update until a week after the update went into place. Very unacceptable from Facebook who has prided themselves on their privacy and safety. I want my information only public to my friends, period, and I want my photo to be seen by future friends so they recognize me, but 100% do not want all of the other information to be shown via search engines like Google... Are you KIDDING me Facebook?? Thanks for your article, Mr. O'Brien... more editorials need to be written to bring this more to Facebook's attention.

It wasn't stated in the article but I thought I would tell you all how to turn off the setting that allows your profile to be indexed (i.e. found on search engines). Just go into your settings at the top of your profile and click privacy settings. There is a box that says allow indexing. Click this box and your profile will no longer be searchable through search engines. I am also the type of person that does not want every tom dick and harry having access to my page, which is why everything is private on it. I created my Facebook page to keep in contact with friends and family that live all over the world. I have nothing to hide on my page, I just don't want everyone knowing my business and having access to pictures of my children. The pictures on my page are for family and friends. Facebook and other networking sites need to realize that the user's privacy should be a priority not an after thought. Why in the world does our information need to be searchable on Google? PUBLIC records (i.e. court records, news articles, etc.) are searchable so why do they need access to something that we post for our friends and family exclusivley?

Tasha, I think you mean UNCHECK that box so no one can get your info.

Idea. Get off of Facebook!!. and every other site like it. It only proves how egotist you really are. Most people could give a cow's behind what is going on in your life, much less every minute of it. And, it can make you into an obsessive spy. I wanted privacy and a relief from the pressure of keeping up with friends. So, I won't make the mistake of having an idiotic, spur of the moment, passionate comment that oversteps my own boundaries making me look like an ARS.

Umm maybe im special or something, but when I logged into Facebook after the change a box popped up telling me it changed, and it also asked if i would like to view the new privacy settings. I clicked yes, it took me through a tutorial, and then it showed what my settings were at and at that point asked if i would like to make any changes. Its not like this came out of nowhere, for at least two weeks there was a letter from the creators on the news feed page telling you the changes were coming, telling you what was going to happen and when the changes did come, they even flashed a box in front of your face telling you it happened and offering to tell you everything about it. Of course, if you clicked to ignore the tutorial and privacy update its your own fault. Get over it.

This is just RIDICULOUS. There should be TWO--AND ONLY TWO privacy options: public, or private (for the ENTIRE account, not each individual element of the profile). If you opt to privatize your account, you should be able to specify whether you want it visible to friends or not....AND THAT'S IT. PERIOD. The over-complication of this is what's making it dangerous for users.

im on facebook and the last 2 weeks when i sign on theres a notice on top of my home page that says privacy settings have changed and how to fix them so no one can see ur info.... and its been all over facebook there was even an email so get with it ppl and stop being stupid either get off facebook or shut up!!!! its still free atleast!!!!!!!! and no one is making you be on facebook. lame asses i still love facebook

WHY would "EXPOSURE" be the default! WHY wouldn't "PRIVATE" be the default and let people "go public" when or if they wanted to.
Facebook HAS to be benefiting some sick way, by all of a sudden exposing every user to the WWW.
It was so true, it WAS the "honest" website. It was about real people connecting with REAL friends.
If we wanted to be called "pussycat" and have the perfect bod, age, income and everything else.. we would be on Myspace!

But as they say, "all good things must come to an end"
Just like EBAY.. big fat greedy people have to ruin something that is unique and interesting!
Hopefully someone else.. WILL take the old concept and start a new site. Because if it becomes inundated with spam, porn and sicko stuff, like Myspace.. I know all five members in my house will be GONE.

if you do not agree with facebook then delete your account....they are under no obligation to prescribe to some fantasy privacy setting you seek....try asking all your freinds for their email and you can communicate the same things to each other that way.... otherwise try yahoo, myspace, icq, skype, msn ...so many others!
Zucky is trying to make a buck like all you other capitalists, let him!

Someone requested use of my username felakuti and Facebook GAVE IT TO THEM! They obviously paid them or something like that. They said that I went against their T&Cs. They're full of crap. They don't know how to back out of it now. I want my username back, and I hear a lawsuit...Myspace did the same to me!