Facebook Privacy: Why It's Really User Stupidity

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Here's what I want you to do: Gather your income tax statements over the past three years as well as a passport, drivers license and a few wedding and vacation photos.

Put all of these in a manila envelope. Don't forget to seal it, staple it, glue it, whatever will help you feel more secure about their safety.

Then drive to your local motor vehicle or post office and announce to the public you are now fastening some personal belongings onto the wall, but please be respectful and not violate your privacy.

If that sounds ridiculous to you, this is exactly how I feel about those that complain about their privacy while on social media giant Facebook (FB).

Whenever I hear these moans, my immediate reaction is, "I don't care." However, it's a good thing for these people that Facebook clearly does care and appears to make its mission to permanently alleviate these threats.

So far the company is doing better than an adequate job. However, I think it is naive to expect complete 100% privacy while online - at least not in the true sense of the word.

This leads me to wonder if users often mistake their perceived "lack of privacy" on Facebook with their own stupidity? I say this because, as in the example above, there are things that we would never dare do in public.

Yet, it is considered socially acceptable on the largest social media site in the world -- one that now touts having 900 million users and counting. I think it is safe to say that not all of them are PhD candidates, so let's just get that out of the way.

According to recent documents provided by the company regarding its privacy concerns and the measures it has put in place to address them, I have come to realize that Facebook understands what it is dealing with and the sensitive nature of the service that it provides.

Furthermore, I have not seen evidence to support the company has (at any point) taken its reach lightly. This does not often prohibit dishonest people from doing dishonest things. But it also goes without saying that they can't prevent stupid people from doing stupid things either.

1 2 Next › Last »