Facebook eases privacy policies for teen users

Wellington – Facebook has reportedly eased the privacy policies for its young users by allowing them to share more information with the general public and have control on how much they want to share.

Earlier, users between ages 13 and 17 were barred from sharing information outside their extended network: their friends or friends of friends, however, the new rules will give them stronger privacy protections and control over their posts.

According to stuff.co.nz, the young users will also have the flexibility to change settings and share their posts with the general Internet audience.

However, privacy groups argue that Facebook has failed to address complaints that its data collection practices for targeted advertising don’t adequately protect its youngest users.

The report said that Pew Internet and American Life study indicated that 94 percent of teens who use social networks have Facebook accounts.

Facebook said that teens are among the savviest people using social media and they want to be heard, be it for civic engagement, activism, or their thoughts on a new movie.

Chief executive of the Family Online Safety Institute and a member of Facebook’s safety advisory board, Stephen Balkam said that the new privacy settings show that the social media giant’s attitude towards teen privacy has evolved.

Meanwhile, executive director for the Center for Digital Democracy, Jeff Chester, criticizing the move said that Facebook is intending to treat teenagers as if they are adults, the report added.