Facebook: New changes you might not "Like"

This week, Facebook rolled out their new f8 platform. The changes have some organizations updating materials and some individuals worrying about privacy of their personal information.

To help you get up to speed, here's a list of the biggest changes you need to know about and resources to help you edit your privacy.

f8 changes you need to know about:

• Become a Fan buttons were renamed to Like (if your organization has language on your website or printed materials that say "become our fan", it's time to review and make updates so that constituents know to look for the Like buttons).
• The new Open Graph API simplifies how websites and Facebook share information about you online. If you've noted your favorite songs in your Facebook profile, then you'll very likely hear those playing next time you open Pandora... or if you've marked favorites on Pandora, your Facebook profile will be updated to include these song. Usage of personal information in this way may take many people by surprise.
• An individual's Instant Personalization privacy setting is automatically set to Allow. This means that you've already told Pandora they can grab your favorite songs. If you're not ready to let the instant personalization happen, be sure to edit your privacy settings to remove the instant allow. This means you can be selective for the sites/applications that have access to your personal information.

Resources to learn more about managing your personal settings:

• EFF: How to Opt Out of Facebook’s Instant Personalization
• Gawker: How to restore your privacy on Facebook
• IanDouglas.com: HOW TO: protect yourself (as best you can) from Facebook’s F8 platform

So, are you and your organization ready for f8? Do you think your personal information is in danger of being abused or misused? Or is your organization already looking at ways to integrate the Open Graph API into your nonprofit website? Post your thoughts in the Comments.

Comments

[Mazarine]

I posted about Facebook's privacy changes recently on my blog, and titled the post, "Shut your facebook"

Here's the link.http://wildwomanfundraising.com/shut-your-facebook

I think making nonprofit causes on the same level as say, liking milk, or liking to party cheapens the cause. I personally think that nonprofits still on facebook are going to find a downturn in donations.

Sincerely,

Mazarine