Facebook is launching it’s Open Graph application on Wednesday, January 18th, to an invite-only crowd in San Francisco.
Open Graph applications are apps that make sharing activities easier. Made by outside developers that track actions, once a user gives permission, Open Graph apps can allow user actions to be updated automatically without disruption. For example, a person working out could have a fitness app that sends a “run” update each time the user goes for a jog. A kitchen application could update “cook” each time a recipe is completed.
When Facebook introduced its Timeline feature in December 2011, users were given a choice to opt-in to reveal memorable posts, photos and events from the user’s time on Facebook, in a visual timeline.
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Like Timeline, Open Graph is also a visual living record of a user’s activity across various sites and apps both on and off of Facebook-the two features work hand in hand.
If you click on of their “like” buttons anywhere on the web, that’ll automatically get published on your wall.
When your friends “like” something, they will see if you “like” it too.
When you visit certain websites, a personalized version will automatically be presented to you, rather than what is presented to the general public.
Facebook hopes to make your internet experience even more social. But what does all of this mean for privacy? What changes is how the data can be displayed to different people. Overall the privacy settings put more onus on the user.
Users will need to make sure they read and understand what information they are making available before signing on to the apps. For example, liking a movie on IMDB will potentially show up in a customized view that their friends seeon Facebook.
Facebook did request Open Graph developers to include the ability to opt-out. Hopefully this is one of provisions considered at today’s invite only press event in San Francisco.
SOUND OFF: How much is too much ?Is Facebook asking users to reveal too much personal information? Are you concerned about your privacy being tracked by these apps? Tell us what you think on our Facebook page.
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