2021-08-18T05:00:00Z
by Aysha Lewis
Facebook leads the way in privacy.
My previous article focuses on the privacy settings and policies of Instagram. In this follow-up, we will examine the privacy practices of Instagram’s parent company, Facebook. The current standards of privacy and censorship rules are heavily influenced by the laws of engagement put in place by Facebook. Since the implementation of punishments for abusive language and graphic content. Most apps like Twitter, Instagram, and Tik Tok have followed suit. Offensive language is hidden from comment sections and is even limited to only showing what is relevant to what is posted. Political correctness is enforced by requiring users to avoid triggering words or phrases that could be used to attack others.
Facebook has a history of testing the Privacy waters. Many social media features that are widely accepted today were causing outrage almost two decades ago. In Facebook’s younger days, user’s had a hard time accepting the addition of a timeline that automatically showed recent posts to their followers. We all expect and enjoy a timeline now, but looking back to 2006, this would be one of the many times Facebook would be issuing an apology to angry users. As innovative as the creation of Facebook has proven to be. Facebook’s lack of concern has been evident as they constantly pushed the limits of what is acceptable in the realm of privacy. The most recent offense dates back to March of 2018 when the CEO of Facebook was forced to confront the reality of data theft enabled by “permissions for developers” that allowed apps easy access to emails, names, and photos since 2014.
Privacy settings to pay attention to on Facebook
- Your Data settings on Facebook
- Control who sees what you share
- Manage location settings
- Control face recognition
- Manage data used to create ad preferences
- Ads shown off Facebook
- “Categories used to reach you” (interests, organizations)
- Manage “off-Facebook” activity
Facebook now provides options to hide ads.
Not only can user’s choose to hide an ad they have recently seen, but users can also learn how their data is collected for ad preferences. Users can change the ads they see and control the ads shown to them from other websites and apps. Suppose someone is concerned with how their information is being collected. In that case, Facebook provides information on removing specific settings and limiting how much of their searches are recorded by Facebook. An example of this would be someone going to google to search for a lawnmower, and when the user returns to Facebook, The same lawnmower they looked up is now on their timeline as an ad. Facebook’s remedy for Ad tracking is an informational site explaining how Off-Facebookactivity works and how to limit or turn it off.
Censorship is a side effect of Privacy standards.
Facebook is known for monitoring how users interact with each other. Comments are heavily policed with warnings that appear when certain trigger words are used. Facebook will give an option to change what was said and often hides offensive language. Many users have spent days and even months in Facebook jail, which usually means they can’t post from their account or comment on anyone’s pictures. Although this level of policing has helped cut down on most cyber bullying, many Facebook users complain about how sensitive the community guidelines are and find themselves suspended for minimal infractions or sharing information considered politically incorrect. Monitoring comments is a significant invasion of privacy and shows that social media values censorship over individual thought and freedom of speech.