Privacy Check
For this week's assignment, I chose the Privacy Check option. Why? When I read the choices, it dawned on me that is has been some time since I reviewed privacy settings on the social media platforms I use and stopped using.
FACEBOOK
Following the suggestions listed in "How to Manage Your Social Media Privacy Settings", I went step by step to review my current privacy settings (2019). Under Security Log In, I do not have a two-factor authorization. I did not change this setting because I want to think about it first. I only access social media accounts on my own devices and I do not have FB set up on my phone. I did notice my phone number was listed but locked so that only I can view it. Since I do not use my phone for FB, I removed my phone number.
The next set of images if the path where to find information that is saved about its Users.
 |
| Figure 1. Click Access Your Information. |
 |
| Figure 2. Explanation of purpose. |
 |
| Figure 3. View of some of the choices available. |
Figure 3 gives you a menu of items to click and review. the Profile Information choice that is circled contains the information the User chooses to display on the FB home page. It provides a nice view of what others see when they visit your page. If you do not change the options, the FB default is used, so it is a good item to check to make sure that what is actually being displayed is what the User wants, not what FB wants.
I was most curious to review my privacy settings because leaving a trail of digital footprints and making my page available to everyone is something I do not want. The Privacy area has two categories, Your Activity and How People Find and Contact You. In both areas, the settings are currently Friends. The one setting I wanted to change but cannot is Who can look you up using the phone number you provided. Currently, the setting is Friends, but I wanted Only Me as the setting. That is not an option within this setting, so I am glad I removed my phone number. The last setting is if I want other search engines outside of FB to link to my profile. ummmmm, NO. I really do not need or want other search engines collecting data about me. This setting was set for No, thus I did not need to change this one.
Another area I looked at within settings was Location. I was relieved to find that I have the Location History set to off. I see no reason why FB needs to know where I am, especially since I only access FB from home. Having a website constantly knowing my location is something I find creepy and invasive.
Blocking is next. Within this area, I did find that I have blocked a couple of people and companies over the years for various reasons. Do I remember why I blocked each one? Yes! There are two people and two companies and there is no way I would ever unblock them.
The Face Recognition category is a new one to me. I have no idea when that category started, but I was happy to see that it was not enabled. According to the blurb on FB, the purpose of enabling this feature is so FB can create better experiences for me. Thanks, but no thanks, I create my own experiences. But wait! Before I rush to judgment, I decided to click the Learn More link because I wanted to make sure I understood this tool. After further investigation, enabling face recognition is to provide me with security. 1. Protects the User from their profile photo being used by others as their profile photo. 2. Helps Users with visual impairments by telling them who is in the photo. 3. Informs the User when you appear in a photo/video, such as a group photo, that the User was not tagged in. There are more reasons listed by FB HERE. I think I need to investigate other sources to make an informed decision if I should have face recognition enabled, but for now, the setting is disabled.
Now What?
The time it took to go review and update my privacy settings on FB was well worth the time. My plan is to review the other social media platforms I use to make sure my digital footprints are secure and minimized.
Now What?
The time it took to go review and update my privacy settings on FB was well worth the time. My plan is to review the other social media platforms I use to make sure my digital footprints are secure and minimized.
Works Cited
Facebook Privacy Basics. (n.d.). Retrieved February 4, 2019, from https://www.facebook.com/about/basics/manage-your-privacy/face-recognition#9
How to Manage Your Social Media Privacy Settings. (n.d.). Retrieved February 4, 2019, from https://identity.utexas.edu/everyone/how-to-manage-your-social-media-privacy-settings
