Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Facebook removes users' ability to hide profiles

Well, it looks like Facebook is at it again. Last year when it rolled out the search feature, users concerned with their profile privacy were able to opt out of being searchable in the site's search bar.
opinion_dotcom1

Well, it looks like Facebook is at it again. Last year when it rolled out the search feature, users concerned with their profile privacy were able to opt out of being searchable in the site's search bar. However, after a year of allowing users to decide if they wish to be searchable or not, Facebook has decided to pull the privacy feature altogether.

In a letter written to users by Michael Richter, Facebook's Chief Privacy Officer, the company explains that they're taking away the feature, but still allowing users to limit who can actually see their posts on their wall (for now). Essentially, the change means that if you have a Facebook account, everyone will know it, unless you operate under a fake name.

As for why Facebook is removing this feature, in his letter, Richter doesn't actually explain why the feature was being removed, only what other things you can do to limit your posts.

"The search setting was removed last year for people who weren't using it. For the small percentage of people still using the setting, they will see reminders about it being removed in the coming weeks," he writes. "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."

Richter also wrote that opting out of being searchable didn't actually provide users with the anonymity they may have been seeking, as they were still able to be found if tagged in friend's photos or posts. Why that would lead Facebook to remove the feature rather than fixing it to provide what users might want is beyond me.

Of course, this might just be paving the way for future changes for users and their content, as Facebook rarely lets things sit for more than few months. I wouldn't be surprised if Facebook eventually opens up everyone's walls to the public, or institutes some sort of monetized feature where you may have to pay for privacy, or be able to post a limited number of private posts per month.

Curiously, enough, this also comes at the same time that Google is announcing it's inclusion of user profiles in ads, something Facebook already does. Now, those who allow it may have their Google profile picture used in an ad for things like restaurants or stores if they post a review or rating about said location. With Facebook this feature currently goes on an app-by-app basis, so if you were to allow H&M to post about recent purchases to your Facebook profile, you're also giving consent for them to use you in their online ads. With the Google ads, however, users are still able to opt out. Depending on the success for advertisers, that may change.

iPhone 5S crashing more than other devices

So how many of you went out there and grabbed a shiny new iPhone 5S? Anyone? Well if you happen to be carrying Apple's supposed latest and greatest iteration, you may be noticing that you're having some issues with apps crashing— more-so than others.

According to app-tracking company Crittercism, which is following the launch of iOS7 and the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, programs appear to be crashing at twice the rate on the 5S than the iPhone 5C or the 5.

That rate is still relatively low in the grand scheme of things though, as the percentage of apps crashing on the iPhone 5C and 5 is still just one per cent, compared with the two per cent that iPhone 5S users are facing.

One of the reasons for the 5S' higher crash rate could be the device's 64-bit architecture, which is a feature unique to the higher-end model's A7 processor chip. That coupled with developers not having the hardware on hand to program prior to the phone's launch could be the root of the issue.

Rogers blames outage on software glitch

A countrywide outage of Rogers Communications cellular services on Oct. 9 is being blamed on a "software glitch."

According to company representatives, the network used for tracking users as they move about and use their phones saw a surge that caused the whole network to restart, leading to last Wednesday's disruptions.

Those affected were both Fido and Rogers' customers across the country, many of who were unable to send outgoing text messages or make or receive phone calls.

The issue was fixed later that day and customers for both carriers are to be credited one day on their bills as a result.