In the News
Is Facebook aiming to create a more privacy–focused platform of just acting in their self-interest? In Facebook bans personality quizzes after Cambridge Analytica scandal, Jacob Kastrenakes at The Verge discusses Facebook’s decision to eliminate the presence of personality quizzes on their platform. Kastrenakes explains that personality quizzes are often used to siphon user information which has historically been misused by third-parties. Kastrenakes also highlights the connection between Facebook’s most recent move and the root of the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
Our Take
Personality quizzes are a form of entertainment. Though most individuals do not trust the validity of the results, learning which character you are in a show based off of your favorite food or other funny information about pop culture is a popular source of participation in today’s society. While these quizzes may seem harmless, every time you answer a question by choosing between specific options, you are providing the creator with information about yourself and your preferences. This data can be used maliciously if it is mismanaged. Facebook’s decision to remove such quizzes appears to be a step in the right direction for elimination the potential for third-party data misuse through the platform. However, for a platform wrought with privacy and data misuse issues, trusting that the ban on personality quizzes will make a difference in user data privacy is difficult. On the user end, always think about the information and data that your actions provide when browsing online, using social media, or communicating through messaging apps.
Recommendations
How can you protect the privacy of your personal information while using social media?
- Understand the risks of putting your personal information into the world, and only share what you have to
- Use safe password practices, and take advantage of Multi-factor Authentication where possible
- Avoid clicking directly on links, whether in email or social media – always search through your search engine to verify legitimacy and find the appropriate site
- Refrain from sharing highly sensitive information through messaging apps and services
- Utilize additional security/privacy measures and settings on apps, accounts, and platforms whenever possible