Timeline searches allow users to find people on facebook, the search results collects all information not hidden and display them in public. Users however use the privacy feature to limit who and what people can find about them on the social network. Facebook is removing this setting that customizes user’s Timeline availability when people search for them by name.
According to Facebook, the privacy feature is used by very small percentage of the nearly 1.2 billion users on its network and for those using it, the company says, ‘it create a false sense of security, because people could still find any post or picture that they were tagged. “Our concern, frankly, is that people think it provides a level of security, but it actually doesn’t,” Nicky Colaco, a member of Facebook Privacy team, told CNET recently.
In the alternative, the company says users should protect their privacy by limiting the audience for each item they post about themselves. “Whether you’ve been using the setting or not, the best way to control what people can find about you on Facebook is to choose who can see the individual things you share,” the company said. Literally, that user can also block other individual users from seeing their profiles in a search.
Facebook privacy issues have been a frequent source of controversy over the years. Just last month, the Federal Trade Commission announced it was looking into a set of proposed Facebook policy changes that would allow advertisers to feature Facebook users' names, photos and "likes" without seeking explicit permission.
"[That] policy effectively says that if you continue using the site, you agree (by your continued use) that you could be featured in a future ad without further notice or compensation," wrote MoneyWatch's Kathy Kristof.
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