Facebook adds tools to help members manage data better
Facebook is adding controls to help users manage what information is shared and who sees it on the world’s largest social-networking service.
New privacy shortcuts will be introduced in the coming weeks that allow users to tweak settings from the home page instead of having to click to other parts of the site to make adjustments, said Samuel Lessin, director of product at the company. Facebook is also making changes to the activity log, which lets users see what they have posted on the service and manage content.
“We’re basically helping people understand what’s out there, and to take the action that is appropriate,” Lessin said in an interview.
Facebook is stepping up efforts to improve privacy settings as it comes under scrutiny from regulators and users about how it handles personal information. Last month, consumer groups including the Center for Digital Democracy criticised Facebook for changes to the company’s governing documents, such as ending votes for users on proposed privacy changes.
As part of the new changes, Facebook said in a statement it is trying to better inform users of where information might show up with notices. That will include showing messages that explain how something hidden on Timeline -- a profile that shows activities on the site -- may still appear in News Feed, for example.
In addition, the activity log is getting revised navigation and management tools. It’s also providing a new way for requesting removal from multiple photos in which users have been associated with, or “tagged.” With the new tool, users can more easily ask friends to take down the pictures they don’t like, Facebook said.
