Facebook: Your Photos in Ads and Other Privacy Concerns

Facebook privacy concerns have been in the news a lot lately and trying to keep up with what is true or false can be time consuming. Facebook issues also go viral on the very platform being discussed, like the quickly shared post about posting a privacy notice to your profile to protect your privacy rights which has turned up to be false in adding any protection. Source: http://www.snopes.com/computer/facebook/privacy.asp.  Another circulating is that Facebook can now use your content including photos for Facebook ads and third party ads.  Although in limited form now, Facebook does leave the door open to use more content, like your photos, for advertising in the near future.

Facebook addresses this latest controversy on the Facebook Ad Setting page stating "There's a false rumor circulating that Facebook is changing who owns your content and how it's used. You own all of the content and information you post on Facebook. Please see our Statement of Rights and Responsibilities for more information."

However, when you click on "Edit Third Party Ad Settings",  Facebook says "Facebook does not give third party applications or ad networks the right to use your name or picture in ads. If we allow this in the future, the setting you choose will determine how your information is used."

It sounds like "if we allow this in the future" is more like "when we allow this in the future",  so it's probably a good idea to adjust your settings now so you are not taken by surprise.   If it bothers you to have your contant used in advertising unknowingly, you can opt to limit your info to "no one" when it comes to ads.

There are two ways to access and edit the Facebook Ad Settings:

1. Go to "Account Settings" (top left drop down menu on profile page)
2. Then click on "Facebook Ads" on left side
3.  You should now have access to edit both "Edit Third Party Settings" and " Edit Social Ad Settings"

Or :

1. Go to "Privacy Settings" (top left drop down menu on profile page)
2.  Then "Ads Apps, and Websites"- click edit settings
3. Go to"Ads" and click edit settings
4. You should now have access to edit both "Edit Third Party Settings" and " Edit Social Ad Settings"

We are in unchartered waters when it comes to the web and social media and it leaves everyone guessing what will happen next.  At  CompuTime in Prescott, we are looking for ways to help our customers in every way when it comes to our high-tech cyber-world and keeping you informed with the latest in technology. We have been serving Northern Arizona since 1995 and can help with any of your IT needs!