Facebook Users' Data

[sunshinehighway]

Honestly, wouldn't that have been a big middle finger? I'd have loved to have seen it!

You'd love to see a smug billionaire 'give a big middle finger" to Senators questioning him on his company allowing the misuse of the data of millions of Americans?
That's sad.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Zuckerberg is a federal trial wont be streamed

 

[Pea-n-Me]

In today's age of computers, I really don't believe I have any privacy. I am sure all kinds of my info is out there.

Just got a new credit card in today's mail because an entity I charged at was hacked.

Happens all the time.

Don't do a lot on Facebook, especially not politics, and have security settings.

This breach is political and thats what had bought Zuckerberg out to testify.

I don't agree. I think there were political aspects to the issues Facebook is dealing with, but I don't think Zuckerberg was made to testify for political purposes.

I think that 81 million users have a right to know what happened to their data, issues with FB that were previously unknown to the public, and what's going to be done about them in the future.

 

[sunshinehighway]

It sounds like some people are unconcerned if they think this doesn't affect them personally.


Loved to see Zuckerburg give who the middle finger? The American people? Lawmakers?

I think people are unconcerned because they really don't quite get it. It's a big deal but it can also be hard to really grasp the true severity of the whole thing because it's not something you can see the impact of in an easy way. Take something like a breach that involves credit cards. It's easy to understand and see the impact. This isn't as easy to see. Epecially if you don't want to feel like you were targeted or used in some way. Also you have people not wanting to see the severity of it because of the political implications.

 

[mummabear]

Every piece of data, no matter how useless or inconsequential you may think it is, is actually very valuable to the brands and companies who use Facebook for advertising.

For example if you like a certain TV show called The Mickey Mouse Club. You have put your location as New York into Facebook. You have put your birth day into Facebook and your birth year is 1985.

Disney an advertiser, is planning to rerun The Mickey Mouse Club TV show but it will only be on TV in the East Coast of America. Disney using Facebook advertising can create a Facebook Ad which will only be shown on the timelines of people who live within 500 miles of New York, who are aged between 35 and 45 and who are interested in Disney. They could also target females only, and females who are married.

Its called the Facebook advertising funnel. Facebook ad filters start off generic but can be set in such a way that brands and companys can literally target the exact person on Facebook who will buy their product.

I just don’t see targeted advertising as something that negatively effects me.

 

[gotomu212]

I just don’t see targeted advertising as something that negatively effects me.

That’s what FB is doing with it now....what will they (or the people they sell your info to) do with it in the future? This is a company that basically was able to come into your home, read all your mail, listen to your messages, read your texts, follow you as you drive around, capture your spending information, see everything you read, download (and own) all the pictures you took, and know who you communicate with/how often....it’s mind blowing. When we found that the government was storing our phone data people hit the roof, but here’s a company doing that times 1000, all without a warrant, and then selling all that information.

 

[MamaBelle4]

Epecially if you don't want to feel like you were targeted or used in some way.

THIS x1,000.

 

[Hikergirl]

That’s what FB is doing with it now....what will they (or the people they sell your info to) do with it in the future? This is a company that basically was able to come into your home, read all your mail, listen to your messages, read your texts, follow you as you drive around, capture your spending information, see everything you read, download (and own) all the pictures you took, and know who you communicate with/how often....it’s mind blowing. When we found that the government was storing our phone data people hit the roof, but here’s a company doing that times 1000, all without a warrant, and then selling all that information.

This is an honest question, what did everything think FB was doing? Do people really believe that they are just there for us to use? Like the pp said, we are the product. Are people really surprised that this is being done?
I can't imagine anyone using the internet doesn't realize that this kind of stuff is happening to them.

 

[sunshinehighway]

This is an honest question, what did everything think FB was doing? Do people really believe that they are just there for us to use? Like the pp said, we are the product. Are people really surprised that this is being done?
I can't imagine anyone using the internet doesn't realize that this kind of stuff is happening to them.

I think it's the extent of the data collected and the way it's being used that's the problem. Besides the issues with data being collected unethically and/or illegally, the sophistication in the ways it can be used to target people is absolutely something I don't think people fully expected and even completely understand.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

People talk about Zuckerberg being under fire... during his testimony (I watched a good deal of it), FB stock went UP.

I think people saw a bunch of embarrassingly ignorant politicians completely out of their depth questioning this guy and concluded that these people will NEVER get it together to regulate FB. And the market loves that.

I get a PhD in privacy settings for any platform I use and opt out of everything I can; and I limit sharing to begin with. Most people have no idea how any of this works or how their info is used. None of it is news to me. The Cambridge Analytica thing that some are so up in arms about now isn't that different from something the other party did proudly in the prior election. No one cared then. People are funny.

I think EVERYTHING should be opt-in only, and that we should own our data -- something closer to what Europe is doing. Do I think politicians here will get their act together and agree on anything? Magic 8 ball: "Outlook not so good".

 

[GreatLakes]

I think that 81 million users have a right to know what happened to their data, issues with FB that were previously unknown to the public, and what's going to be done about them in the future.

I can tell you what happened to their data, they willingly surrendered it to Facebook to be sold.

Another misconception that is perpetrated by the uninformed media is that Facebook is being irresponsible with "our data". Everything we put into Facebook is actually their data. If they want to sell it go for it, it is theirs to sell. While what happened in this case is against the terms and services that academic researchers agree to we really should assume anything we put into an online platform not covered by very specific laws (as opposed to terms or service) will be sold to every person willing to pay for it.

What do I think Facebook did wrong in this case? Nothing. What do I think Cambridge Analytica did wrong? Nothing really. If Facebook has a problem with what CA did that is between the two of them since Facebook (the owners of the data) and not us (the willing providers of the data) are the actual aggrieved party in this affair.

I think people are unconcerned because they really don't quite get it. It's a big deal but it can also be hard to really grasp the true severity of the whole thing because it's not something you can see the impact of in an easy way. Take something like a breach that involves credit cards. It's easy to understand and see the impact. This isn't as easy to see. Epecially if you don't want to feel like you were targeted or used in some way. Also you have people not wanting to see the severity of it because of the political implications.

I do get it, this is what I do for a living, but understand that information we give Facebook (and Google, and Amazon, and our web browser, and this site....) is information we are giving up to be monetized. No one should be surprised when that data is, well, monetized. This is different than information we give a medical provider or bank because of very specific laws those institutions must abide by. Nothing about this case makes it special, this happens likely thousands of times a day. There is the now famous story about spouses and parents finding out about pregnancies from Target because their analytics were so good. This is what big data exists to do.

 

[kimblebee]

I don’t think I was targeted because as I assume, the data was to target people with ‘fake news’ and political
ads right? That’s why they wanted the data in this specific case?

I don’t usually look at ads to the point that they will influence me. I either read the article (maybe) or roll my eyes and scroll past it.

Is it such a concern (again, specifically to the fb thing) because they’re worried about more impressionable people being targeted and falling for the stories or being influenced to vote a certain way?

This is my basic understanding of it..if I’m wrong I’d like to know.

 

[Southernmiss]

People willingly sign up for Facebook. No one must sign up and put info out there. The user chooses to use it or not.

I don't see why people are surprised that their info is being shared.

Easy solution going forward-disable your account and stop posting on any social media, including this site.

Facebook is now a tool for 'older' people, businesses, commerce, political info, news outlets, social groups, etc.

Dd16 has no Facebook. Ds20 has one, but doesn't use it. Ds23 uses it for groups, ds19 uses it with pictures of himself and girlfriend and an occasional #collegestudentprobs meme.

It will be around for a while, but the next generations are moving to other platforms.

 

[tvguy]

People willingly sign up for Facebook. No one must sign up and put info out there. The user chooses to use it or not.

I don't see why people are surprised that their info is being shared.

Easy solution going forward-disable your account and stop posting on any social media, including this site.

Facebook is now a tool for 'older' people, businesses, commerce, political info, news outlets, social groups, etc.

Dd16 has no Facebook. Ds20 has one, but doesn't use it. Ds23 uses it for groups, ds19 uses it with pictures of himself and girlfriend and an occasional #collegestudentprobs meme.

It will be around for a while, but the next generations are moving to other platforms.

Yup. There is no free lunch. You are getting the service for no charge, in exchange for your information. Facebook has to pay their bills.
I have to laugh about the news outlets, yes, the bosses have us use it because "that's where the young people are". And those bosses are all under 35!
The discussion this morning in the newsroom was about the questions asked by lawmakers. The view was, they clearly have no idea what Facebook or Social Media are.

 

[mnrose]

People willingly sign up for Facebook. No one must sign up and put info out there. The user chooses to use it or not.

I don't see why people are surprised that their info is being shared.

Easy solution going forward-disable your account and stop posting on any social media, including this site.

Facebook is now a tool for 'older' people, businesses, commerce, political info, news outlets, social groups, etc.

Dd16 has no Facebook. Ds20 has one, but doesn't use it. Ds23 uses it for groups, ds19 uses it with pictures of himself and girlfriend and an occasional #collegestudentprobs meme.

It will be around for a while, but the next generations are moving to other platforms.

Yes, but Snapchat, Instagram and all the "newer" platforms have the exact same business model. Unless you pay a monthly fee to use it, the model is the same. Nothing is "free." You either pay to use it, OR they are using you to sell ads to advertisers. New platforms are no better (or worse) than Facebook.

I don't personally get the angst about Facebook. I post nothing on there that I would have one bit of concern about appearing in the NYT tomorrow. I'm just not that interesting.

 

[Southernmiss]

Yes, but Snapchat, Instagram and all the "newer" platforms have the exact same business model. Unless you pay a monthly fee to use it, the model is the same. Nothing is "free." You either pay to use it, OR they are using you to sell ads to advertisers. New platforms are no better (or worse) than Facebook.

I don't personally get the angst about Facebook. I post nothing on there that I would have one bit of concern about appearing in the NYT tomorrow. I'm just not that interesting.

I agree that other social media platforms are like Facebook. I guess I was thinking about a congressman who was insisting to Zuckerberg yesterday that Facebook is a monopoly like power companies or utility companies. Obviously, the congressman was not familiar with Snapchat or Instagram.

 

[tvguy]

I agree that other social media platforms are like Facebook. I guess I was thinking about a congressman who was insisting to Zuckerberg yesterday that Facebook is a monopoly like power companies or utility companies. Obviously, the congressman was not familiar with Snapchat or Instagram.

Or MySpace.

 

[Imzadi]

Honestly, wouldn't that have been a big middle finger? I'd have loved to have seen it!

It sounds like some people are unconcerned if they think this doesn't affect them personally.


Loved to see Zuckerburg give who the middle finger? The American people? Lawmakers?

I think people are unconcerned because they really don't quite get it. It's a big deal but it can also be hard to really grasp the true severity of the whole thing because it's not something you can see the impact of in an easy way. Take something like a breach that involves credit cards. It's easy to understand and see the impact. This isn't as easy to see. Epecially if you don't want to feel like you were targeted or used in some way. Also you have people not wanting to see the severity of it because of the political implications.

The thousands of shareholders in his company have taken a hit over this too. Zuckerberg wasn't the only one who lost billions of dollars when FB stock took repeated nosedive hits in the last week. Some people probably lost their retirement or nest eggs. And it's not like they can take what's left and invest it elsewhere in the stock market, as the volatility & uncertainty due to other current events is creating such unpredictability all over.

 

[gotomu212]

This is an honest question, what did everything think FB was doing? Do people really believe that they are just there for us to use? Like the pp said, we are the product. Are people really surprised that this is being done?
I can't imagine anyone using the internet doesn't realize that this kind of stuff is happening to them.

I don’t think a lot of people knew, or still don’t know, the absolute depth of information being collected or that it was being sold. I was fine knowing that everything I put up on a wall was fair game or everything I liked or shared....I get concerned that FB (and other apps- FB is the one “caught” now but it’s widespread) are also sharing that information.

I think a lot of people assume FB determined you were looking to buy new bedroom furniture so they sent ads your way from furniture stores and were telling advertisers that they got targeted information to 3000 furniture buyers right at the point they were actively buying. That’s very different from taking all of your info gleaned from internet searches, messages, and following your location and selling it to a furniture company.

Using furniture is really small stakes, but imagine you have a medical condition that you would like to keep private. FB knows from you sending a PM to your best friend that you’re concerned about your condition, they see you searching for info on treatment, looking at illness support pages- from all of that they figure out that you are HIV positive. What if they then sold that information to a company that screens job applicants. You have posted NOTHING about having HIV and you thought that was between you, your doctor, and the friend you spoke to and yet now it’s out there for anyone willing to mine the data.

That’s the line FB crossed- they collected what people thought was non public information on you and sold all that raw data to another firm that could then manipulate it to learn about you, and then potentially could sell it off again and again.

 

[DopeyDame]

People keep talking about facebook users wilingly giving facebook their personal data - which is of course true as far as it goes.
But facebook goes WAY beyond keeping track of what you knowingly provide through your account. In fact, it has info on you even if you don't have a facebook account. Are you 100% confident none of your friends have ever allowed facebook access to their contact list? Never used the "find my friends' features? Never sent you an article they originally linked to on facebook? Are you 100% confident you delete your cookies before and after ever single website visit that might have a facebook "Recommend" button? Are you always on a VPN?

This is a really important and insightful article: https://www.aclu.org/blog/privacy-t...ebook-tracking-me-even-though-im-not-facebook

And of course it's not just facebook, although they're the biggest for now.