| With a user base of more than 300 million people | | | | such a public forum. Facebook says, "We've improved |
| worldwide, it's not a surprise that many companies | | | | the profile so that it doesn't just list your information, |
| flock to Facebook to reach customers. Facebook has | | | | but now links to Pages instead." It seems simple |
| something for everybody. For individuals, it's a place | | | | enough, but the changes have made Facebook |
| to connect with friends, and for brands, it's a place | | | | unpopular with many users once again. The biggest |
| to reach key audiences on an accessible and popular | | | | concerns for users opposed to these new changes is |
| platform through Fan Pages. This week, Facebook | | | | another loss of privacy, and the fact that Facebook |
| announced some simple but important changes to its | | | | is using personal information to profit even more. |
| fan pages to make this process easier for companies | | | | |
| already using the site, and to encourage more brands | | | | When Facebook overhauled its privacy settings a |
| to utilize their large network. Although these changes | | | | few months ago, it encouraged users to be more |
| are geared to make Facebook even more popular | | | | open and share information to make Facebook more |
| with brands and attract more users, Facebook's | | | | of a community than a limited network – but it |
| emphasis on companies could jeopardize its user | | | | didn't make a difference. Instead of loosening their |
| experience and call users' privacy into question. | | | | privacy settings, users tightened them up. Each time |
| | | | Facebook makes privacy changes, it becomes clear |
| The new feature, dubbed "Connected Profiles," will | | | | that people want Facebook to remain as private as |
| change static text (in the "Interests" section of user | | | | possible. Instead of listening to users, Facebook is still |
| profiles) to active links to existing fan pages. For | | | | trying to make its information more public; by |
| example, if you've listed Apple as an interest, | | | | monetizing its content and commercializing the |
| Facebook will suggest you "Like" the Apple fan page. | | | | network, Facebook is abandoning the core aspect of |
| In your profile, a link to the Apple page will be | | | | its user experience — simple social networking. |
| created in the "Likes and Interests" box. For | | | | Connected Profiles is a good idea in theory, but it |
| companies and advertisers, the process makes users | | | | could be the last straw for many users unhappy with |
| more aware that the products and companies | | | | Facebook's changes and the way information is |
| they've listed in their profile have official Facebook | | | | handled. If Facebook wants to correct these privacy |
| pages. | | | | issues, they need to establish more effective |
| Privacy issues come into play here, as users will be | | | | communication with users. Although... |
| listed as a fan of something even if they haven't | | | | To read more about Facebook design, go to |
| actually "Liked" the page. User's hometowns, jobs, | | | | Sparxoo, a digital marketing, branding and business |
| and schools will all be linked to Pages — sensitive | | | | development blog. |
| information that many people don't like to share on | | | | |
