PCR Tech and IT retail, distribution and vendor news
As if Facebook didn’t already collect and post enough of its users’ personal and private information, the social networking site now plans to record their search history too.
Users grumbled when their every movement on the site was published.
They cringed when their recently played music tracks were made public, and their entire friends list learned of their secret obsession with Justin Bieber.
Well now, Facebook has taken it to a whole new level of awkwardness.
If there’s one thing that internet users hate, it’s their browsing history.
It is the deep, dark secret that paints a disturbing picture of a persons soul, and it is for this reason, that many choose to delete the data routinely.
So with that in mind, it’s hard to imagine that many people will be pleased with the idea of this type of information being combined with the world’s most popular social networking platform, and possibly, with their entire social group.
In a statement, Facebook stated: "In addition to your other activity, you’ll be able to see the searches you’re making on Facebook. Just as you can choose to delete any of your posts, you can use the same inline control on Activity log to remove any of your searches at any time. It’s important to remember that no one else can see your Activity Log, including your search activity."
Of course, it’s a sigh of relief to hear that this information will only be accessible by the user themselves, and will not be published to their public profile or timeline.
But still, it’s information that I’m sure many will feel uncomfortable knowing it’s being monitored and recorded, and will leave most users of the site a little unsettled.
People stalk other people on Facebook, it’s a fact. It’s arguably the most important factor behind the success of social networking.
Once you’re networking with those you know, you want to find those that you don’t, but want to. Right? Right.
Long gone are the days of meeting someone and needing their life story. It’s the 21st century, and now, all it takes is a name.
Of course, this will ultimately result in just another search history that users will have to keep an eye on and delete if they don’t want their friends learning of their shady past-time activities.
Thank you Facebook, for providing yet another way of reminding us all just how sick we really are.
Want to receive up-to-the-minute tech news straight to your inbox? Then click here to sign up for the completely free PCR Daily Digest and Newsflash email services. You can also follow PCR on Twitter and Facebook.
