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Facebook Opens Gate to Walled-Garden
Facebook has begun notifying members that they now have the option of allowing the company to make their name and profile picture available when non-users search the site. This is a big move for the social networking giant, which has received criticism in the past for its "walled-garden" approach to social networking.
Since opening its doors to welcome users beyond its original co-ed crowd, Facebook's membership has ballooned to more than 39 million -- up 63% since May. Facebook is hoping that allowing user profiles to be searchable by nonmembers -- and eventually to appear in search engine results -- will boost those numbers even more, but some question whether decreased privacy will, in fact, increase interest in the social networking site.
Users of Facebook will still have to log in to "poke," send messages, or add friends, and can opt out of having their profile made public by adjusting their privacy settings. While these provisions should placate some of those who balk at the idea of having their privacy diminished, some say the move will alienate long-time users.
Learn more (Washington Post)
Learn more (Facebook Blog)
Learn more (Tech News World)