Edit: I didn’t specify this — This is if you join a network, like the one for your city. Your default setting allow anyone in your network to see your full profile. As I’m writing this, the Ottawa network is just hitting 150,000 users, it was around 70,000 a few months ago.
Funny how a day after my rant that Facebook is so awesome I’m posting this critical point. I don’t like how the default settings for Facebook lets people in your network look at my profile and see who I’m friends with. Just like how Windows XP shipped with security disabled and Vista is locked up tight - some people just don’t read the instructions and jump into the fray.
Why not make a new account limited so that only your friends can see your vitals. Seems like it will reduce the problems that are bound to happen when you gather a massive amount of people in one place online. A user can then open things up if they wish to promote themselves in their networks and such.
dtrain
June 15th, 2007
eh? i thought only friends or people in ur network could see ur profile
i think ur confused……… just dont join networks or you set it up how u like with the privacys
BPAndrew
June 15th, 2007
you’re right dtrain - I updated the post.
I guess my point was is that people don’t really think about privacy settings when they join these networks.
Chris
July 25th, 2007
I like the analogy, comparing it to pre SP2.
Its a fact that most people will use whatever they have on its default settings. Hence IE accounts for something like 85% of browsers used in the world. Is it coincidence it comes installed on Windows by default??
TBH I never made the link that people in my network could see my profile. Annoyingly, Ive always considered that a unique selling point over MySpace - the fact that people are kept out until you verify you at least think you know them.
Nice one for taking the initiative and getting in touch with Facebook. Personally, I’d like to see direct friends (ie, people I consciously add to my list) to be able to see my details by default, and people in my network to be able to see limited info. Theres no good reason why people you’ve never met should be treated as a “friend by proxy”.