Privacy, What Privacy?

There's been an awful lot of talk around privacy as it relates to social networking sites. I'm confused as to why people are shocked and amazed to hear that people can find out a lot of information about folks from these sites. I'm further confused that many people don't know how to adjust their privacy setting, either because they don't know they exist or don't care to find out.  Lately there has been a litany of apps that people can download to help them be sure they have the correct settings.

I guess my confusion is centered around the fact that people just don't bother to check out what they are signing up for. How often do people really look at the terms and conditions that some corporate lawyer has created for any site they use let alone a social networking site.  It would amaze you what the rules of the road are on some of these sites.

I recently signed up for a small business networking site and was asked to check the box on the "I agree to the terms and conditions below".  The very detailed terms included that the site could use anything that was written in any "comment" section as they saw fit, you lost any rights to it. They could develop an idea or sell an idea you may propose. They also prohibited the reposting of any of their material. I'm certain that most people don't check a sites policy before reposting material on the web, their blog or elsewhere.  Interesting.

So what does this all mean? Here's a couple of rules to think about, it may not include everything but it's a good start:

1) First off I'm not suggesting you leave Facebook. We all assumed the risk to some degree when we joined. Just check your privacy setting and determine which settings work best for you. Just keep in mind that the more you keep to yourself the less "social" the experience is.

2) This is an easy one. For goodness sake, don't put information on any social networking site you don't want anyone to see. That includes your employer, your HR department, your co-workers, your boss, your spouse/significant other, your family, and most importantly as I always say to my students your Grandmother. That's the bar I always use if I'm not sure. If I wouldn't want my Grandmother to see it - it doesn't go up. Period.

3) Know what you're getting yourself into. If you're not prepared to talk about certain subjects: religion, politics, sex, life-style choices, then don't start, like or comment on those conversations.

4) Stop whining, may be the most important one, surprise, surprise, social networks are trying to make money with advertising. To do that they look at your information and target messages to you that you might more likely respond to. Shocking. I guess we forgot about all the other forms of media that have been doing this for years.  This is called engaging, captivating, targeting (or some other clever name) a captive consumer group.

5) It's only 2010. The creepiness has just begun. Is it creepy? Certainly, and will it get creepier, you betcha. Anyone seen the facial recognition out-of-home screens yet? I have, and I think everyone can agree that it's creepy.

6) Have fun. Sharing information and staying in touch is wonderful. Folks a half a world away are seeing your ideas and experiences in real time. It feels like they are closer and still part of the dialogue.  And guess what? People like that. Sharing photos of loved ones, travel highlights or just life's simple pleasures couldn't really be any easier.

So please stop the chatter about privacy. It's gone, whether we like it or not.