Facebook Offers Users Privacy 'Checkup'
By Melony Roy
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - For most of its history, Facebook has encouraged users to share information publicly, but now it's offering a privacy checkup for all of its 1.25 billion members.
After years of criticism from users, privacy advocates, and now regulators, Facebook seems to be taking privacy more seriously. Drexel Cybersecurity expert Dr. Rob D'Ovidio says it's a step in the right direction.
"Facebook is clearly giving its users more power over their own information and you have to applaud them for that. It's not perfect but it's getting there."
Over the next few weeks, Facebook will start rolling out a new and expanded privacy checkup tool. The network will walk users through privacy settings for their status updates, review their settings information in their profile, and remind users of what apps have access to their data.
D'Ovidio says it's a strategic move for the social network with the rise of services that promote anonymous sharing like Snapchat and Whisper.
"It's no surprise that Facebook is moving in this direction by giving users the ability to essentially take a step back and hide their identity and hide their posting from the public at large."
Facebook has also changed the default setting for new users, whose posts will now only be seen by "Friends Only."
For more information on the privacy checkup, click here.