We operate under the assumption that users will not do what they don't want to do, as long as we make it explicit what might happen. And if they make a mistake, they can always go change their settings.
This breaks down with the deluge of snippets of information, voluminous and arcane privacy settings, and the increasingly complex and cluttered UI. It's simply impossible for a normal user to keep up with.
Frankly, it's this assumption that makes Facebook untrustworthy. Perhaps you should assume that your users value their privacy. Asking for forgiveness rather than permission works for startups, but facebook is not a startup any more. Facebook has the users. They should start acting like they want to keep them.
I'm perplexed. If you find Facebook's privacy settings arcane and its UI complex, how do you get around Linux or Photoshop at all?
I totally fail to see how it can ever be a good business model to encourage users to share embarrassing stuff. Pretty sure, as a private entity who looks out for their own interest, they work to reduce this happening otherwise people would be leaving in doves.
Most people can't use photoshop or linux. I can, but do everything in my power not to, especially for something as trivial as a social network. But, with photoshop and linux, and when a user fails, they get frustrated and ask for help or give up. With facebook, they unknowingly spew semi-private communications all over the web. You're right- it's a terrible business model for an established company, and one that should have been snuffed out years ago when they still had a chance. It's now institutional, and I fear, permanent. Thankfully, Google appears to be ready to pick up the slack.
A lot of people can't get around Linux or Photoshop at all.
I think most people here can probably make sense of the privacy settings, but facebook has 750 million members. I am certain most of them do not even know where to find privacy settings, let alone know how to use them. Yes, they may be idiots for posting personal data to a site they don't fully understand, but it is reality. Simply trusting facebook not to exploit these people seems naive to me.
This breaks down with the deluge of snippets of information, voluminous and arcane privacy settings, and the increasingly complex and cluttered UI. It's simply impossible for a normal user to keep up with.
Frankly, it's this assumption that makes Facebook untrustworthy. Perhaps you should assume that your users value their privacy. Asking for forgiveness rather than permission works for startups, but facebook is not a startup any more. Facebook has the users. They should start acting like they want to keep them.