While we were worried about Google, Facebook was quietly taking over the world

May 20, 2010 by Stephanie

Much has been written about Facebook’s announcements over the last month that show them exerting their dominance in social networking. Facebook now allows any website to build community within their site using Facebook widgets, and to use Facebook’s analytics to track their own domains. And any website can easily add a “like” or “recommend” button to content that they want users to share.

It turns out that while we were all worried about Google as Big Brother, our backs were turned on the global web giant that is Facebook. Facebook’s not just taking over social networking, they’re taking over the world.

A few of Facebook's profile questions

After all, it’s Facebook, not Google, that asks us for no fewer than 34 different fields when you sign up, including your phone numbers, address, names of your family members, and your religious views. Sure, you don’t have to include all that information, but many Facebook users do. And it’s that level of demographic information, as well as users’ self-stated likes and interests, that allows Facebook to monetize advertising so effectively and makes it so attractive to partners.

Additionally, they’re aggregating users in Community Pages in a way that broadcasts users’ interests; most users are likely unaware that they are potentially being displayed on these pages – very publicly – in a move that is sure to get Facebook quickly to the top of search engine listings. This will benefit Facebook for sure, but the users – not so much.

How To Foil Big Brother Facebook

So what can you do if you, like me, want to continue to use Facebook but want to be sure that you’re not inadvertently broadcasting your entire life on the web?

Most importantly, be sure that your privacy settings are what you want them to be. Facebook has recently said that they would make the settings more simplistic, as they’re currently pages and pages of confusing drop-down menus and radio buttons to select.
For a quick look at your privacy settings, try this cool tool which scans your privacy settings and gives you simple red-yellow-green indicators on whether your information is exposed, limited or locked down completely.

Privacy Check Tool: Reclaim Privacy

Be conscientious of what you post in your status. Now that status posts could end up on community pages, they’re potentially going to also show up in search engines, or at least be visible on the public community pages (see image below). If you don’t want to be associated with an interest, news item or brand, don’t post about it to your status.
Cooking community page - note related posts at bottom

If you’re not ready to give up your Facebook yet, what are you doing to ensure that your information is not being made publicly available? Or are you throwing in the towel and deleting your account? Please leave your ideas and thoughts in the comments below.