Facebook comes under frequent fire for its user privacy policies, though the site has taken big steps to remedy their image since becoming a publicly traded stock. Their latest campaign to improve user privacy is a consumer education program with the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG). The program will focus on educating teen users on how to limit their visibility and protect their identity on the site.
The NAAG will post a comprehensive overview of privacy settings and controls on their Facebook page, and attorney generals from 19 states will begin distributing PSA announcements this week. “At Facebook, we work hard to make sure people understand how to control their information and stay safe online,” Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg said.
Studies have shown that Facebook is increasingly falling out of favor with teenagers, who prefer more image-centric modes of communication like Instagram and Snapchat. The migration of teens from the site seemingly has little to do with privacy, and the effectiveness of a government campaign to educate them seems like it may be too little, too late. How many teenagers are frequently checking the NAAG Facebook page? Still, any form of privacy education, for adults and teens alike, is a good thing.