Day Facebook Changed
Out of context: Reply #18
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> shinpo:
> So the underlying question is, "Why would they change the default > settings in the first place?" I don't know the answer, but I
> assume it has to do with money as it always does.I think this will be a case of killing many birds with one stone. These are ideas I that I think might have led to the decision:
By setting data access as public by default -> they are encouraging a culture shift, towards more openness on the part of users. I remember when myspace first debuted, I thought the idea of having conversations about social arrangements etc out loud was pretty undesirable .. but after a while, actually became more used to the idea. I.e users ideas of what's acceptable change and moderate according to what other users are prepared to do.
I am almost certain that the majority of younger users will not bother changing their privacy settings. Privacy is a dead concept for people of a certain generation - and I don't think it's even something that they aspire to protect.
Once data is in the public domain, it can (arguably) be mined and used for commercial purposes. While other companies will be able to use this data -> facebook will obviously be in control of the API's for access. They'll also have behavioural (click) data which is the thread that ties everything else together. I haven't read their EULA in a while, maybe this isn't possible at the moment -> but even so, it wouldn't surprise me if this changed.
This is pure speculation, but no doubt facebook has been approached by government agencies from many countries - and has been asked to give access to user's private data. This would present a set of scruples to most reasonable people. Perhaps setting data as open (public) by default, they're able to appease some of those who might be putting pressure on them by setting the bar low.