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I Didn't Tell Facebook I'm Engaged, So Why Is It Asking About My Fiancé?

Posted by mbaehrlxer on · 3 comments
The Atlantic; By Sara Marie Watson 		Mail this story
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I have no illusions about what Facebook has figured out about me from my activity, pictures, likes, and posts. Friends have speculated about how algorithms might effectively predict hook-ups or dating patterns based on bursts of "Facebook stalking" activity (you know you are guilty of clicking through hundreds of tagged pictures of your latest crush). David Kilpatrick uncovered that Facebook "could determine with about 33 percent accuracy who a user was going to be in a relationship with a week from now." And based on extensive networks of gay friends, MIT's Gaydar claims to be able to out those who refrain from listing their sexual orientation on the network. When I first turned on Timeline, I discovered Facebook had correctly singled out that becoming friends with Nick was a significant event of 2007

So why does Facebook care to know more about the nature of my relationship to Nick?

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Comments (3)

HoTMetaL ·
This article has nothing to do with Linux, but by sending others a link to it, it helps them understand why Facebook is way-too-creepy for me.
mbaehrlxer Story submitter ·
exactly my thought. the topic of social networks and privacy comes up frequently enough on lxer for this to be interesting. my personal feeling is that i knew facebook was creepy, but i didn't know it was that creepy. from my previous stance of "i'd rather not join it, but i might if it turns out to be the only way to keep in touch with someone important to me" i have upgraded to "no, i'll never join. over my dead body". my children will also not be permitted to join until they are old enough that i can't legally stop them (if i haven't managed to raise them with enough respect for privacy by then i'll have to blame myself).

greetings, eMBee.
lxerguest ·
Convenient for users but convenient for data-mining.I have thought this about Price Club memberships too,but this may be more personal.Anyway it's about time someone other than Google was pointed out for privacy/antitrust violations.

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