Poll shows Facebook users prickly over privacy changes

An online survey confirms that Facebook's proposed changes to its privacy policies are not sitting well with its users.

In March, Facebook outlined several changes to its privacy policy. The changes enable third-party Web sites to access personal data of users that joined Facebook under the impression that these details would be private.

Sophos, an IT security firm, says if you log into Facebook and then visit a third party website, that site will be able to access the following:

• your name
• your profile picture
• your gender
• your friends and connections
• your user id
• any content shared using the "Everyone" privacy setting

The survey conducted by Sophos revealed that an overwhelming number of respondents objected Facebook's changes. In fact 95 percent did not like the changes and 3 percent were unclear on them. No idea what that last 2 percent was thinking by agreeing to support Facebook's tactics.

"The results of this poll send out a very clear message to Facebook--its users aren't happy. Most Facebook users still don't know how to set their Facebook privacy options safely, finding the whole system confusing and long-winded," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos. "The onus should not be on Facebook users to 'opt out' of this new feature but to 'opt in'--making a conscious choice to engage, rather than having to make a conscious decision to decline."

Facebook did respond in an attempt to ease users' concerns in a blog post.

Remember how Facebook steamed past MySpace? Facebook could one day find itself in MySpace's current position on the social media site ladder if it continues to ire its users over privacy policies. I've already posted about dealing with the barrage of those annoying Facebook apps. Anyone interested in a new social media start up?