FACEBOOK MESSENGER APP'S PRIVACY POLICY; WHY YOU DON’T NEED TO FEAR.

Be Not Deceived

Over the few months when technology has climbed the walls of future where almost any and everything you need and want to do is possible, many people bloggers, news journalists and TV personnel have found their ways into the hearts and subconscious of the not-so tech savvy people like myself.

Some of the posts and reports would scare you to the point of not wanting anything to do with your cell and mobile phones let alone turn on computers both at home and at the work places, or wherever you use them. I must confess that, in writing we find the best way to appeal to the readership in that you are made to look everyday life from a different perspective; better or even stranger than it seems to you.

I followed the post "Facebook Crosses The Line With New Facebook Messenger App"of Nick Russo published on the website here on August 7, 2014 6:18 AM. I share in the concerns raised in the comments and how much fear gripped most and I couldn't force myself to imagine what the reactions of those who followed the ‘shared and re-shares’ of the article. 

Fig. 1.0 A screenshot of privacy policy illustrated

The so-called privacy policies as raised by Nick Russo (and how he spelled it out according to his understanding for his readers sounded pretty much convincing to let anybody throw his phone away or switch it off for a very long time given the way and manner the phones have been used, with Facebook Apps alone. Most people manage their businesses through that same Facebook App and very sensitive information is handled through that same app so telling people how ill (or much worse) using such apps are could hurt the feelings and trusts these people have invested in technology.

I want to illustrate an instance here where I want just one person especially those bloggers and news reporters to tell me for a fact that the developers of such apps don’t use the apps themselves or they design their own special for their own greed. Obviously, Mark Zuckerberg uses these and more of these apps. Even before Facebook could be this popular, various apps have been in circulation and in use until technology of our time has become this much expanded.

Most Android and Apple apps use these same privacy policies as required of all users to be able to match search preferences of users. The most common of such reasons is the fact that most people in their early Forties have had a manual way of keeping records most of which were never computerized and so in using such information the apps would be able to match various phone numbers, names, email addresses etc that have same similarities.

One of the best benefits, in my opinion, of using such privacy policies is to help the trouble of finding those contacts we personally know but have different names and addresses on Facebook and other social networking sites. I would only cite this instance, and not get much into detail, for I believe many users of the said apps would attest to this as fact. Need I say more? Many people have signed up on one or more social networks for email accounts or social profiles, most of which demand your personal information. These we gladly input ourselves and submit without any feeling of having given out sensitive information but we see everything wrong with Instant Messaging (IM) apps of which Facebook Messenger has become the scapegoat. 
Why not Yahoo! Messenger and Yahoo! Mail, Badoo, Twitter, Hangout (formerly Google Talk), Oovoo, Skype, Okcupid, LinkedIn, Nimbuzz, Tango, Miumeet, Skout, Mo+ just to mention but these few. Almost every app you must already have or would love to install on your mobile phone now would have access to all these information and make good use of them way more than you would ever have even if you use this mobile phone for your entire lifetime. Not fair guys!

I don’t think we should blame much on Facebook or similar app and their developers, or much less suspect them for developing such apps to the benefits of users simply because, in demanding more of technology, our IT Specialists also burn their midnight candles to supply to meet our high demands. Must we blame them for providing what we ask for?

7 Reasons Why I'm NOT Leaving Facebook!!

Be Not Deceived

By Vincenzo M. Landino
[Global Social Agency Strategist at Market Edge | Startup Consultant | Entrepreneur]

I've been seeing a lot of people lately declaring their exit from the social network, Facebook. I thought nothing of it, until recently, a friend of mine wrote this article in regards to why he has decided to leave, and feels all should. His article reached over 13,000 people with hundreds of shares and comments in just over a day. Then I really started thinking, "I don't agree and need to share why."

I don't like to write rebuttals, however, on this topic, I had to add my $0.02.

Forget the FarmVille requests and "chain posts" for the sake of discussing what the network is actually used for when used properly. From the top, here are seven reasons why I won't be leaving Facebook any time soon.

Social Equity: First, you might realize that Facebook is a social tool. If you register on Facebook and fill out your profile with detail, don't be surprised if your relatives, old classmates and other ghosts from the past find you. In fact, they will find you. I've connected with family in Italy that I wouldn't talk to nearly as often without Facebook. I've connected with former classmates that have turned into clients. In fact, those "old" friends and family could turn into your biggest advocates.

Humanize Your (Personal) Brand: I am the single biggest proponent of displaying your brand 24/7. Whether you are working, at the gym, on vacation or on the links, you are always your brand. Over the years, there has been a shift from separating work life and personal life to a more open and blended culture. Its ok to share some vacation photos or that you're at the game. Potential clients want to see someone that is well rounded. This goes without saying, but if you post photos of you downing 20 tequila shots Saturday night and forget to get that report in on Monday morning... you're pretty much up sh*ts creek. I still vouch for being responsible is better than not having it at all.

Syndicate Your Content: Get out from under the rock you're living under if you aren't blogging or creating your own content. With Facebook, you already have an audience that is (hopefully) listening. Get your blog out to those people. You also can stream your Twitter, Flickr, Digg and other accounts into Facebook. It's up to you what you want to share or leave out.

Raise Your Visibility: By consistently posting on Facebook, you are posting relevant information and creating a leadership position for yourself and your business.

Transparency: If you do all the above, you can't avoid transparency. "Transparency" is the business buzzword for the 21st century, and your participation in this arena will create synergy toward that goal for others.

Security Options: As with all social networks, including LinkedIn, you can customize who you want to see your content. You can also turn on a feature that allows you to control posts that are put on your wall, photos you are tagged in and more. Use them! I do, and this is why Facebook doesn't bother me as much as it does others. If there are brands or people I don't want to hear from, I turn them off, mute them or unfollow them.

Don't Fool Yourself: This is probably shocking to many, but, if you think Facebook is the only network that collects your information, your head is in the sand. Every network uses your information in some way, shape or form. Do you use email? Ever notice the "customized" ads? Yea, they're collecting your info too. Do you use Google Chrome? Foursquare? Hell, do you use a smartphone? Do you take pictures on your smartphone? Post them to Instagram? Information about you, geolocation information on your photos, browser cache and cookies (that have been around since the beginning of the internet) are all used to collect information about you. As my nonna always said to me, "quello che non fai, nessuno mai sapere." Translation: What you don't do, no one will ever know. Let that sink in for a second, and apply it to your social (media) life.

I'm a Social Media Strategist. Social media is what I do. The same reasons I chose to pursue a career in social media are the same reasons why I myself won't leave any of the networks I belong to. They are all important in their own way and come together to form a social strategy, be it for business or personal.

Like what you’ve read? Please take the time to share with your LinkedIN contacts, Facebook friends and Twitter followers. Follow and join in the conversation with me on Twitter at @VincenzoLandino.

Resubmitted By: @Wabonty.R