So many tirades, so little time. With Facebook pushing 450 million users, it's no surprise it takes the top bill in the press. From privacy issues to litigation of all types, Facebook is definitely in our faces.

Did you quit?
On May 31, 2010 there was supposed to be a general revolt online against the tyranny of Facebook. According to reported numbers of committed quitters, there was an insinuation of a general 27,000 and 34,000 Facebook users committed to quit. We still don't know exactly how many people have actually quit (unconfirmed reports have stated 30,000), but compared to the 450 million users and the numbers of new users joining everyday, the slowdown will doubtfully have much of an effect on Facebook.

Along with the privacy issues, the courts are currently reviewing Facebook for Anti-Slapping (FB pages created to allegedly defame a business or person), and there has been a recent surge in Click-Jacking (basically phishing via Facebook to get you to hand over your login credentials). I chuckle when I get a message from a "friend" with whom I haven't really communicated saying that I am appearing in a funny video or how I need to see this video, of course spelled with all these weird characters and grammar missteps. My first thought is, "oh, you silly PC users." And then I delete.

There is outrage in Facebook-land, as well as in blogs outside the network, and we have seen more people quitting the network. After people leave without fanfare, it appears these same people return to Facebook – equally devoid of any fanfare. The reality is that Facebook is just fun. Leaving it after connecting with old friends or meeting new friends is the social equivalent of crawling into a cave.

Privacy Schmivacy
Facebook, for me, is just one piece of my internet experience. Whether I am online for work or for pleasure, I want to take as much personal responsibility as I can. So every time Facebook comes out with a new way to adjust my privacy settings, I take advantage. Lately, I have been changing my settings a lot! Before making changes in this round, I would suggest perusing the "Controlling How You Share" ... here is a link. This is that "personal responsibility" part. We know it can get confusing, but if you participate it is important to understand. Facebook can't tuck you in, brush your teeth, read you a bedtime story and post your pictures and wall posts at the same time.

On May 27, when Facebook changed their privacy control settings, the new setting options were supposed to:


* Provide an easy-to-use "master" control that enables users to set who can see the content they share through Facebook.
* Significantly reduce the amount of information that must be visible to everyone on Facebook.
* Make it simple to control whether other applications and websites access any user information.

Pay close attention to that last bullet. It's especially germane to the privacy issue. If you don't farm, cook, engage in any wars or battles in Facebook, then many of the applications that are available are not worth the exposure for you. And, don't worry too much about the exposure. If your purpose on Facebook is to connect with people and businesses, then that is how you adjust your settings. Think about why you are on Facebook and adjust your settings to the tightest application for that purpose.

The press has achieved some awareness of the issue... so much so that Facebook's Director of Public Policy, Tim Sparapani, said that 35% of Facebook users who had never before consulted their privacy settings have now updated them. As I have mentioned before, I am tinkering all the time for my benefit and yours. Here is what changed with the last set of revisions. From my Privacy Settings in my Account tab I removed 42 "Games and Applications" that I don't even remember using or don't use at all anymore. Since I don't play any games, I turned the "Game and Application Activity" to "Friends Only." I left the "Info Accessible Through Your Friends" open to "Friends of Friends" because I am trying to connect with old friends. I personalized my control, locking most things down to "Friends of Friends." I don't allow "Instant Personalization from Partner Websites" because my internet experience isn't hinged upon Facebook – I don't need Yelp! to immediately know that my name is Troy and that I am 38. If I want those applications to know that information, I will tell them when I sign up for the service.

Your Facebook Experience
So, it's easy to understand why people are upset, but the reality is that we have no angry leg to stand on. Allegations of selling private information is certainly despicable and unnerving, but would you put that past any organization with 450 million members? That would be like trusting AT&T and Comcast not to raise your rates after your "introductory offer;" or Coca Cola and McDonald's changing their marketing such that they didn't entice children and adults to overindulge. I know this is shocking, but large corporations don't have your best interests at heart, so why would you trust Facebook? Understand that you couldn't build a site like Facebook and maintain it for the masses for the amount of money you or I make in a year. Yes, Facebook looks simple on the outside and it can't do this and it can't do that and we wish it could do something else... But – it does a few things wonderfully, and in order to do so, they have to make decisions that now affect 450 million people.

The cost of Facebook isn't in dollars. The cost is the little piece of acceptance in acknowledging that nothing in life is free. The price for Facebook is a little bit of your peace of mind. If you know why you're there, you can optimize the experience with privacy settings and common sense. We choose to be on Facebook because we enjoy it. If you don't, then jump ship. Otherwise, we need to accept the public egg on our private Facebook.