I like Facebook, I really do, but I just read a report (story 1 | story 2) regarding the new opening of other information to developers. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to over-react and delete my account. Besides this is only for applications that I allow to access my information.
Due to me reading this I now realize that the ability to see application updates or changes in functionality has so far been impossible without the developer being required to post details about their application. I’m going to compare this to WordPress (WP), iTunes, and (gasp) even Windows. When you update anyone of these you can look up the release notes for that update and see what functionalitys have changed, been added, or removed. Usually a short list of bug fixes are available for this. Specifically for WP plugins, whenever there is an update available I have to implicitly install it. Whether I read the notes or not is up to me, but they are there and I have to allow the update to happen.
After I started writing I decided to checkout the applications that I have already installed on my account. None of them have any release information, and nothing that explains what they actually collect from me. Each have a privacy policy (as required in the developer’s terms of service, however, I haven’t taken the time to actually read them (I will do that shortly), but I’m willing to bet they don’t detail what information they are using.
I guess what this means to me is the lack of transparency that applications working on Facebook are actually required to have with the user base. More importantly, how many of those users actually care? I’m willing to bet that if questioned specifically regarding their private information almost the entire user base is concerned, but regarding their day to day interaction with the site are they practicing that?
[smartads]
What does this mean for me? I’m going to continue using Facebook, but now I’m going to require that there is a “worth-my-time” privacy policy (if applicable), a decent release notes page somewhere, and I find the application useful. Starting today, all non-facebook created applications need to adhere to this, or they are gone. As I wrote this I went through my Applications, apparently I don’t use many. I kept one (Selective Twitter Status) and deleted 4 that I wasn’t using. My brother went through his list, and found a lot more, but he doesn’t keep as close an eye on them like I do.
My list of apps including those provided by Facebook (FB)
- Developer (FB)
- Events (FB)
- Gifts (FB)
- Groups (FB)
- Marketplace (FB)
- Mobile (FB)
- Notes (FB)
- Photos (FB)
- Links (FB)
- Selective Twitter Status (@andyy)
- Videos (FB)
That’s all, have a great Monday
–dez