Recent moves by Google and Facebook have more than just a few of us talking about privacy. Yet, I think the conversation is misdirected. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that we’re not that concerned about privacy. What we’re interested in is control.
A few weeks ago Google decided to add all of your Gmail recipients as friends on Google Buzz. And, Facebook decided that you’d want your friends and brands to know which sites you’re visiting and which of your ‘likes’ were really expressions of a brand preference. So, they default their systems to do just that. Share everything as you visit web sites.
In the end they may have been right. After all, most of us who are still carrying around a little angst regarding our high school popularity or lack thereof want to have as many friends as possible. So, thanks Google and while you’re at it, can you get that cute little redhead in Honors English to sign my yearbook? As for Facebook, aren’t we already expressing likes and interests in everything from American Idol to Zappo? And, posting pictures of little Johnny’s spelling bee championship trophy? So, Facebook thanks for allowing me to accelerate the word-of-mouth that is my opinion.
But they were wrong. Right? Yeah, maybe. They were wrong to assume that just because we’ll share every little thing in our lives that they can share it too. Google responded by disabling the default. Facebook has essentially done the same with an “opt-out” feature for changing the option regarding sharing info with web sites (just check the Privacy Settings/Web Sites of your Account). All they really had to do us tell us about the benefits, prompt us with a message at sign in, and allow us to “opt in” or “opt out” immediately upon launch of the new feature. My guess is most of us would have retained the default settings. After all, we’re all but over the secrecy of the Information Age. We simply want to know where the kill-switch is when our data spills out onto the social web.
Talk to me www.twitter.com/timbigfish
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