Using modern technology for communication, including social networking websites, is impossible without sharing personal information, which is associated with privacy concerns. Nevertheless, in many cases, social media users do not recognize the negative implications of making their information available to others. This finds reflection in the failure to read social networking sites’ privacy policy statements. The purpose of this response is to apply TRUSTe’s policy writing guidelines to analyze the privacy policy of Facebook, Inc.
The organization’s policy deserves positive feedback in terms of readability and incorporates TRUSTe’s advice regarding consumer-friendly statements. Facebook’s privacy policy has been updated in 2018 and 2021 to implement the California Consumer Privacy Act and make other changes (Facebook, 2021; Pardau, 2019). The policy exists in the form of a well-structured web page that instructs the users of Facebook products on the types of collected information, its uses, including complying with legal requests, data sharing, deleting personal information, policy change processes, and California residents’ consumer privacy rights (Facebook, 2021).
The policy is readable and easy to understand for an average English-speaking adult since technology-related terms, for instance, cookies or metadata, are explained and illustrated with examples (Facebook, 2021). The extensive use of lists, including the types of personal information and information about devices that the website obtains, also adds to the resource’s readability (Facebook, 2021). All of this makes the policy consistent with TRUSTe’s guidelines regarding the presence of explanatory notes instead of legalese.
To continue due to content and presentation, the policy makes me comfortable to continue doing business with Facebook. As per the guidelines by TRUSTe (2004), effective privacy statements must have clear notice forms detailing what information is collected and how it is used, instructions regarding how consumers can correct or remove their personal information, and the website’s security precautions, and grievance redress mechanisms. Facebook’s (2021) updated policy explicitly addresses all of these elements; however, accessing detailed information on Facebook security features and risk minimization instructions requires opening the help center link. For some users, this might reduce the document’s convenience, but relevant information on security protection is still easy to access for anyone with minimal computer literacy.
Despite certain lengthiness, different sections of the policy are presented in a way that considers diverse users’ priorities and queries. One thing that is a bit surprising is the attention devoted to explaining things that might be intuitively clear for many consumers. As an example, the section about users’ rights specifies that the decision to delete one’s Facebook account leads to the irreversible removal of status updates, photos, and messages, but information about this account shared by other users cannot be deleted due to not being part of this account (Facebook, 2021). The discussed guidelines emphasize achieving the right balance between short and lengthy statements and listing the most relevant aspects of privacy policies first to observe the principle of relevance (TRUSTe, 2004).
Facebook’s policy is on the lengthier side, but it considers the prioritization rule and proceeds from users’ most common questions to more specific subtopics, such as minors and online safety (Facebook, 2021). Moreover, the web page uses an interactive menu that makes the document easier to navigate and comprehend (Facebook, 2021). This enables users to access information that interests them most of all.
To sum up, Facebook’s current privacy policy observes the majority of TRUSTe’s recommendations, which guarantees users positive impressions. Specifically, the policy delves into all aspects of using customers’ personal data and explains critical terms in plain language, making the text easier to understand for non-professionals. Considering this, the information about privacy and customer protection mechanisms shared by the social network can inspire trust in different users.
References
Facebook. (2021). Data policy. Web.
Pardau, S. L. (2019). The California Consumer Privacy Act: Towards a European-style privacy regime in the United States. Journal of Technology & Policy, 23, 69-100.
TRUSTe. (2004). Your online privacy policy. Web.