Starting with the new “LIKE” bar, Facebook has now become a treasure trove of data for law enforcement and government agencies alike to monitor and spy on it’s citizens around the globe. It has largely become more of a powerful tool used to collect and analyze  users input, instead of the social platform on which it was founded.  Through the use of  other so called “apps”, we can gain a significant insight about the data being collected and how much of a profiling tool Facebook has now become.

Who has access to all this information and what they may use it for should be of concern to everyone!  Are they telling us the truth about why and how they collect our data? Is our personal and private data being sold to the highest bidder?  Is all of our online information really safe as they would have us believe?

Data collection is the process of gathering and measuring information on targeted variables in an established systematic fashion, which then enables one to answer relevant questions and evaluate outcomes.

With the introduction of the new “Like” bar, Facebook may now know and record your thoughts and feelings over any given situation. It is now much easier to see and determine if the user is happy, sad, in love, is in awe, or even angry to any event, comment or post. Over the course of time this helps Facebook to build a better understanding of the users thoughts, and or reactions to a particular event or post. The more one interacts with Facebook, the more complete the profiling becomes. Thus Facebook has become a valuable tool for all law enforcement agencies, regardless if the users intent is criminal or not. It can tell the Government many different aspects of a persons character, giving them advanced notice as to how that person may react in a given situation. 

Your current “Status” may also reveal a lot of information on your current dealings or feelings, along with the time and date. You may tag people, offer up a photo, which in itself may be revealing the location and date. You can enter a “Life Event” or any other “Special Events”, or you may “Check In” telling others your whereabouts at any given time. Your activity feed then keeps track of it all, detailing all of your input and interactions across Facebook, and may be sharing this information with anyone else who may have access.

Further profiling may be obtained through the use of “third party” apps, or sites which many users find to be amusing, yet these so called apps cast suspicion on their true purpose. One such site, Nametests.com, boasts that it is a free, fun application offering free fun quizzes and online humor. Simply by placing a small ad asking, “What makes you angry?” If clicked upon, may allow the app to view and collect all of your information. Simply by allowing it access to your Facebook account, it can decipher all of your likes and comments and return a fairly accurate, if not chilling response. These responses also help to profile each individual user, which is now why so many sites offer you to connect with your Facebook account when logging in. Many other sites offer similar apps which may aid in detailing one’s likes or dislikes or other personal traits.

So… with this vast gathering of our personal information, can we be sure it is safe? Do we really believe it is to be used for the sole purpose of making our online experience more enjoyable? I for one highly doubt it! The attraction of social networking seems to be geared more towards harvesting our personal data, than as a way to communicate. If you are looking you keep your private information private, then stay away from sites like Facebook. Never at anytime link your accounts, and always use a separate login and password for every site you visit. Think before you give up that piece of information, as we have learned that in today’s society, information is one of our “most valuable” assets!