If you don't know about Facebook mishandling user data by now, you need to listen up. The company came under fire after they were outed for disclosing private information of all Facebook users to a third-party firm called Cambridge Analytica. That company is now being accused of allegedly profiling voters for the Trump campaign back in 2016 and is being investigated by the Federal Trade Commission.
Facebook's big privacy problem
Privacy concerns are nothing new to Facebook. Back in 2010, founder Mark Zuckerberg promised to make privacy easier to control and manage so that users could change settings without any complications. After the Cambridge Analytica news came out in mid-March, users begin to boycott Facebook and attempted to delete their accounts.
This sparked an even bigger concern when users tried deleting accounts and the social media platform prompted them to download a copy of all the information gathered on the website. One user realized Facebook stored years of information about his contacts from his android phone, including call data, names, phone numbers and the length of each call made or received. Many others also found the same information was taken from their Android phones.
A Facebook spokesperson replied by saying, the company did not take the information secretively, intentionally, they did not sell this information, and that it is a common practice to upload your contacts when using the app. That statement contradicted a statement by a user who says his information was taken even though he had opted out from linking this contact list with Facebook.
As a response to this news, Facebook recently changed it's privacy tools to let users take more control of what Facebook can share with advertisers. For example, you can now delete anything now permanently. In the past, your information would still be stored. Your privacy settings are now all in one place, making it easier for people who are unfamiliar with the process.
You can also change your ad settings so that Facebook doesn't show you ads according to your interests, websites visited, or social actions. If you didn't know Facebook was doing that before, you might want to change your settings.
What is next for Facebook?
Facebook's stock is declining and countless users have vowed to get rid of their account, however, with a total of 50 Million users, and the emotional attachment people have to use the platform to connect with friends and family members, experts say it's not likely Facebook will disappear. Mark Zuckerberg has apologized for the breach of trust and says that the company will limit the data apps get when you sign into your account.
The Federal Trade Commission also confirmed it has launched a "non-public investigation" into Facebook. British lawmakers requested to get Zuckerberg to testify in person, but he declined, sending other executives instead. Many say he will end up testifying in Washington, but that is yet to be seen.
What can you do?
Knowing all of this information is extremely important, especially for the generation who grew up with or is very new to social media. Before you decide to delete your Facebook or deactivate it, you can take control of the information you put out there and the online fingerprint you are leaving behind -- yes, that is a real thing.
Don't make your information public, avoid liking ads or adding every detail about your interests to your profile. Pretend that your profile is public and will be seen by future employers and your grandma. You can manipulate the system as long as you remain informed and understand how to change your privacy settings.
Now is the best time to do your due diligence, login to all of your social media platforms and check your privacy settings and tell your friends. We spend a lot of time on social media and put out a lot of information, so let's stop pretending like everything you put out there is completely invisible and remember to always stay informed.