A new study out earlier this week from Common Sense Media highlights the concern parents have about their children’s privacy in their social networks. 75% of the parents said that the social networks are doing a “negative” job in protecting their kids’ privacy online. And an almost equal number worry the data isn’t safe. Our own global research, in the Norton Online Family Report, echo these concerns with the majority of kids reporting that they have already had negative experiences online and over 60% of parents reporting that they worry their kids give out too much personal information while on the Internet. Parents want it all to be easier to manage, with simple opt-in (instead of opt-out) settings. I’ve long suggested there should be a standard such as offering three phases of privacy settings with Low, Medium and High. This would mimic the Windows security settings and that would therefore be familiar yet there could still be a “Customize” button for those who crave more granular control.
Additionally, it would be great if customers could see at a glance the privacy settings used by their friends in those social networks. Too often, your own friends compromise your privacy by sharing information, photos and videos about you without your permission. So you have to run around after the fact like the man at the end of the parade with the big broom. Only instead of sweeping confetti, you’re asking to be un-tagged and for things to be removed. The latest affront in this area is the introduction of features like Groups where friends on Facebook can add you without your permission. To everyone’s amusement, tech blogger Michael Arrington did just that, adding Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook to a NAMBLA group without Zuckerberg’s permission. Ouch! Other things your friends can do without permission is tag you in a photo or video, which makes it appear in your news stream, or check you into a location with Places. A friend of mine was tagged in some very suggestive photos by a “friend” or perhaps via a hacked account. Either way, I was pretty surprised by what showed up in my News Feed!
The Common Sense Media study also found emerging concern from both parents and young people about the privacy of geo-location services, such as Foursquare and Facebook Places. Parents also stated their concerns about privacy issues is growing and they expect more assistance from Congress in the form of better, stronger privacy laws. They also want to see better education programs about online privacy issues coming from our schools. We at Symantec believe that school-based education is just one part of the formula needed to improve the public’s knowledge about online safety and security. Parents have an important role to play on a daily basis to share what they know with their kids, to discuss privacy issues and ask their teens for input on the best strategies for managing privacy. I’d recommend sitting with your teen while logged into your own social network account and asking for their help in adjusting the privacy settings. Let your children take on the role of educator as this will reinforce their own adoption of better privacy self-protection.