With privacy concerns never too far beneath the headline horizon when it comes to social network usage, Facebook has taken a notable step forward in catering to the needs of its user base by handing them direct control over those who are able to view their profile pages.
Users handed full privacy control by Facebook. Image. Facebook.
More pointedly, a recent Facebook overhaul introducing a variety of new features and a fresh design flavour has also given network users an “Everyone” option that hands them the ability to open specific portions of their profiles – or the entire thing should they so wish – to other Facebook members.
Those looking to apply the Everyone feature can do so by visiting their profile privacy settings and selecting whether they would like approved friends and/or general Facebook visitors to have access to their entire profile or elements such as status updates, wall posts, videos, and photos.
“One of the top priorities at Facebook is offering privacy controls that let you choose exactly what you share [and] with whom,” outlined Facebook engineer Mark Slee in an official blog announcement.
“While these controls remain important and a priority for us, many of you have explained that you also want to open parts of your profile to a wider audience,” he added. “Starting today, you can choose to make your profile and any of your content available to everyone on Facebook.”
In standing behind its promise to protect the overall privacy of its users, Facebook has said users who completely open their profiles will still not have personal content returned by general Web search engines such as Google. Moreover, as a description, the Everyone feature is actually only applicable to logged-in Facebook account holders.
“In the past, searching for friends you haven’t seen in a while or someone who has a common name may have been difficult. You may have only been able to see their search listing and a small thumbnail version of a photo, if that,” said Slee. “With this change, people can use the ‘Everyone’ option and make it easier for you to find and connect to all the people you know.”
Other aspects integrated into the Facebook experience by the content update include access to celebrity profile pages and a tweaked status update tool that removes default self referencing and is a distinct nod to the gathering appeal of micro-blogging service Twitter.
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