New developments or types of social media launch almost daily. Because such Internet-based applications or programs enable individuals and groups to connect easily and openly to share all types of information, you or your children may be putting private information at risk. Often, you may not be aware just how much or what information you are sharing.
Here are just a few recent examples. In late April, Facebook, the largest social network, launched new features including Open Graph/Instant Personalization, with default settings that said yes to sharing more information with third-party sites unless you opted out. Although consumer pushback forced Facebook to make some positive changes, there are still potential privacy problems. In February, Google introduced its new social networking program, Buzz. By enabling it by default for all Gmail users (rather than offering the option to opt in or not), Buzz then would follow everyone in the Gmail user's contact list. In June, Yahoo announced its intention to build social networking Yahoo Updates using the Yahoo email database. Beyond such controversial participation protocols, however, much more is happening in the social web universe. Did you see where the Library of Congress is going to archive public tweets on Twitter (and the vast majority of tweets are public)? Then there's Blippy, an application that automatically shares all your credit card purchases. The list goes on.
Perhaps you are concerned about such developments in the popular universe of social networking and media or maybe you agree with Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who's been widely credited with the view that it's a new day in networking where people just don't care as much about privacy. Whatever your opinion, you (and your kids) should make an informed decision about how much of your personal information you want shared and how. That will take some digging and studying on your part. Our goal in this report is to help you take a look at some of the most recent developments.
Data sharing changes make monitoring your privacy settings mandatory
In the week just before we wrote this review, at least twenty new social media sites, applications, or features came online. As many privacy experts point out, the business model of many social media companies is to use "opt out" rather than "opt in" choices for whether or not a user participates in various features or functions. Most companies also put the best spin on this practice emphasizing things like more connectivity to friends or greater ease of use and rarely mentioning the potential downside of sharing more information about yourself, your activities, and your opinions to wide or public audiences. This typical industry practice means that you must routinely monitor your privacy settings for the social media you use. Set your privacy settings carefully when you join a new site or service or enable a new application and check again when new features appear.
Facebook's April introduction of its new Instant Personalization and Open Graph features offers a case in point. Since it is by far the largest social network with over 400 million users, there's a good chance you or your kids are members. With Open Graph (which replaces Facebook Connect), Facebook has expanded its use of the "Like" button/feature to "partner" third-party websites. There are about 30 partner companies to start.
Previously, you've been able to press the "Like" button to respond to something a "friend" says or does within Facebook. But the new function takes that outside the confines of Facebook. Now the "Like" button will be showing up on third party sites. When you click the "Like" button for something you read, a product you like, pages you surf and so on, it will post to your Facebook news feed and some of it may go to your profile. At the same time, friends' recommendations or "Likes" and comments will appear on those third-party "partner sites" together with their Facebook profile picture. That will happen to your "Likes" also. For Facebook members this is called "Instant Personalization." Privacy experts also worry about the fact that Facebook has changed its privacy policy about how long third parties (such as application developers) can retain stored data about Facebook users. That used to be 24 hours. Now it's indefinitely.
You can opt out of some or all of this sharing by selecting appropriate privacy settings within Facebook. You can opt out of sharing case-by-case on individual partner sites by responding to the banner that appears the first time you visit a partner site such as Pandora or a news outlet like CNN or the Washington Post. But since partners will probably be growing rapidly, we recommend that you review your overall privacy settings.
In response to the consumer outcry, Facebook announced a simplified privacy settings page and other changes that give you the ability to block sharing your information more easily. You can read a good analysis of those changes from dotrights.org. We have also put together other resources to help you analyze the problems and change your privacy settings as you desire. Consumer advocates reclaimprivacy.org also have an online program than can help you check your Facebook settings.
While you are checking your privacy settings, we suggest that you monitor other social networking sites you may belong to. These include MySpace, LinkedIn, Google Buzz, Twitter, Flickr, Yahoo Updates, and many more.
Who cares what's public if you're having fun—photo and video sharing
All the world's a stage these days! Cell phone cameras are everywhere and videocams nearly everywhere. Snap a photo or run a little video and post it to your blog or social network page or upload it to YouTube. You might get a viral hit. Where's the harm? With a little precaution and judicial personal censorship, probably none. But it's important to remember a few things about images on the Internet and to help our young adults remember them, too.
First, once an image is posted to the Internet it's public forever. Even if you take it down from sites you control, others may have copied it and it may be archived. Photos that seem innocuous to you and your friends may have unforeseen consequences. In one recent case, a posted photo of a young teacher on holiday in the islands enjoying an adult beverage with friends (nothing wild at all) landed that same teacher in trouble with the school board. That may not be fair, you think, but it's fact.
Second, the background of a photo or video may reveal more than you want known. Does it give away your home or school location? Together with your name and face that could give a thief or predator enough information to identify you or your teen.
Connect Safely has a good tip sheet to help parents talk with their kids about photo and video sharing.
Hey, look where I am and what I'm doing—geolocation or social mapping applications
Geolocation applications are the latest craze for many "connected" people. Geolocation identifies the real-world, real-time location of a computer or mobile device connected to the Internet or of a website visitor. Foursquare, Gowalla, Brightkite and Hot Potato are some of the most popular geolocation programs. But other services such as Twitter or Google have some "geo-tagging" capability that may be enabled. And of course, you can post your status on social networking sites. Most enable you to share just where you are and/or what you are doing. The privacy question to consider is: how public is this information? Is the information so public that, for example, potential thieves could identify you and know your home was unoccupied? Can you set adequate privacy controls?
Again, our recommendation is that you thoroughly examine the privacy policies of such applications and services before enabling them and reject them or set them to privacy levels you are comfortable with.
Hey, look what I just bought! Going to extremes.
A site called Blippy allows users to instantly broadcast news of credit card and other purchases. Even so eager a marketer as Amazon thought this sharing dangerous and refused to allow access to Amazon purchases. Blippy got around that by asking subscribers to give them their Gmail account information and accessing Amazon purchase information that way. In a recent mishap, Blippy inadvertently exposed personal financial data of some users. The company promised to do better and to hire a chief security officer and more staff and worked to help customers whose data appeared to be compromised.
What's the message here? First, we're not trying to bash Blippy. New web applications spring up like grass after rain. Security protocols and oversight will vary. Potential users need to be savvy about what they are willing to share and where the dangers are in such emerging services. In addition to checking privacy protocols (or lack thereof), common sense is a good tool.
Texting to Sexting
If you are a parent and your tween or teen has a cell phone, you know that kids live to text. Most parents are also concerned with the growing phenomenon of sexting. This is sending of sexual content, usually revealing photos, from mobile phone to mobile phone. Not only does this practice expose kids and place them at risk of predators, it may also open them up to charges related to child pornography. Privacy experts experienced in working with kids recommend that parents open an ongoing, calm, non-confrontational dialogue with their children about how they use texting and social networking and the potential dangers. Support their critical thinking about the best and safest ways to use social media both for themselves and their friends or peers. For some helpful resources, see ConnectSafely.org and OnGuardOnline.gov.
StraightTalk Summary: Monitor your privacy settings. But adopt this precautious stance—if I post it, it's public and out of my control.
Social networking and other social media can certainly make it easier to connect with a wide range of friends and acquaintances. Given the varied privacy protocols and approaches and the rapidly expanding number of sites, services and applications, personal vigilance is the watchword. Limit personal information you post, monitor privacy settings on all sites, and help your kids do the same. Our consumer education team enjoys using social media, but we find it really helps to adopt the attitude that if we post it, it's public and act accordingly. You and your family might consider the same approach.
For More Information
ConnectSafely.org offers news, safely tips and advice for parents and youth using social networking, video-sharing, geolocation-sharing and more.
OnGuardOnline.gov from a consortium of government agencies also offers helpful news and tips.
Concerned abourt your privacy online? Then check out the articles in Consumer Action News' Summer Issue.
Disasters can have unexpected consequences that impact your privacy and your personal information. This article from the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse can help you be prepared.
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July 2010