Commentary

Members' Remorse: Facebook Users Say Their Data Is Unsafe

Mark Zuckerberg may have thought he had Facebook members behind him when he was grilled by Congress today. Boy, was he wrong. Most users think their personal data is unsafe, and they’re unhappy with the way Facebook has handled the Cambridge Analytica scandal, according to a poll by CBS News.

As well they might be, given the barrage of negative publicity in all news channels. That deluge -- caused by Facebook’s slippery data practices and its belated attention to privacy -- has spilled over into all aspects of online marketing, from email to ad targeting, and we will likely end up with a GRPD-style law in the U.S. Thank you, Mark.

Of the Facebook users polled by CBS, 61% have little or no faith in Facebook’s ability to protect their personal data. Another 70% doubt its capacity to prevent fake accounts, and 69% say it can’t block disinformation. Only a single-digit percentage of users have a lot of confidence in the company in these areas.

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In addition, 63% say it’s unsafe to provide their data to companies they didn’t choose.

Perhaps more alarmingly for legitimate email marketers, who had nothing to do with creating this mess, 61% think the government should increase regulation of social media and tech companies to protect user data. The remainder say this would limit innovation. 

And Facebook’s response to the crisis, which has reached such a catastrophic level? Only 21% say it’s acceptable, versus 51% who feel it’s not. Another 28% say they don’t know enough yet. 

Either way, people are jaded — 80% are not surprised by the fact that outside companies got their hands on the data.

Don’t these people have anything good to say about Facebook? Sure — 53% think it brings together family and friends, and 59% say that it’s fun communicating on the medium, CBS reports. 

But 48% say it also results in gossip and misleading information, and only 29% say it provides them with reliable information about current events.

And get this: 41% are annoyed when people share too much. That’s just about the way we see it.

Zuckerberg was only starting to testify at press time — all he said is that it's all his fault. But his prepared remarks describe several new privacy features, according to CBS. For one, it will no longer allow people to look someone up by their email address or phone number. CBS notes:“Facebook found the feature was being abused.”

CBS polled 1,506 consumers, 78% of whom are Facebook members. The other 22% must be congratulating themselves.

 

 

 

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