Discussions

Privacy Settings with Dashboard?

Posted by markstoneman • 3/04/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Tags: activity feed, Dashboard, profile page

As soon as BlogCatalog announced the dashboard feature, I turned off everything. Nonetheless, as new features were added, they were set on by default. Not cool.

Worse, BC is displaying a ton of history on my profile page from before I opted out, and from way before they ever had this feature. That's wrong, really wrong. It should not be happening.

We are allowed to delete items from our feed, but who has the energy to delete each individual item for almost a year's worth of activity?

As far as I'm concerned, this is a deal breaker for me. It needs to be fixed very soon.

User Comments

3/04/08

sellytapgirl

Same here. Please, stop the madness.

[reply]
3/04/08

pointlessbanter

Good point, it was probably just not thought through when they were working it out... It could be worse it could be facebook beacon... hey look you bought a pair of suspenders on amazon an hour ago...

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3/04/08

offendedblogger

It is a little invasive.

[reply]
1. 3/04/08
  
  markstoneman
  
  A little?
3/04/08

TonyB

@ stoneman We will clear your feed history in the morning.

The privacy settings aren't retroactive so it's displaying everything you did before you set them to private.

For many people what they are doing on the social web is something they want to share.

Of course this is a personal preference & we certainly respect our member's privacy.

[reply]
1. 3/04/08
  
  markstoneman
  
  Okay, good. But only mine? Will each individual have to send a request for this?
  
  And what about when you add new communities and features? Should they be auto-on? That is where the trouble started in the first place. You guys turned on our dashboards without asking, and we had to turn them off.
3/04/08

pointlessbanter

Also I just want to find this out because I ran into this at work today... It doesn't look like you have a privacy policy to go with your TOS. (Unless I didn't see it.)

I'm not complaining or anything like that but we launched a network for a company and got destroyed because of it and had to scatter to get one. Now that you are doing the dashboards it might be a good time to get one written up, just kind of looking out for you all.

[reply]
1. 3/04/08
  
  markstoneman
  
  Excellent point.
3/04/08

TonyB

@ stoneman We will come up with a way that requests are not necessary and members can opt to not display anything.

You bring up a good point about what to do with new communities. We will meet tomorrow and discuss a way to address this. One option is to provide global On/Off so that no matter what communities are added if you have selected off nothing will be displayed.

@pointless : good point. We have one and will be adding it to the site today.

[reply]
1. 3/05/08
  
  TonyB
  
  @ thegnr, the issue with facebook was very different than this. They were selling your personal, targeted information for ad revenue. That is a lot different that this.
  
  You have TOTAL control of what you want to display from these networks on blogcatalog. First and easiest way, is if you dont want other people to see your Diggs/StumbleUpons, etc. then do not enter them into your blogcatalog profile.
  
  Second, if you do provide your social networks to blogcatalog, you can always opt out of displaying any or all of your activities on these activities by going to your dashboard and opting out.
  
  You have total control over what you display and what you don't.
  
  Moreover, all the information we are talking about is already being seen by millions of other people on other sites.
3/04/08

offendedblogger

The defaults should all be off and we decide what is turned on.

[reply]
1. 3/04/08
  
  thegnr
  
  Hey offendedblogger and stoneman I agree It should be off by default. Have we learned nothing from facebook LOL
2. 3/05/08
  
  DrowseyMonkey
  
  agreed.
3/04/08

TonyB

@offended - all the displayed info. is public on each of the social networks. Everything displayed is already available on other sites such as digg and stumbleupon. Private data such as flickr photos set to private are not displayed.

To turn off everything would mean that nothing was displayed on blogcatalog for the news feed and the service wouldnt be valuable to the majority of members who really like it.

For members who don't want anything displayed we have provided that option however we have had a glitch with activity that occurred prior to turning on privacy settings. We will take care of this on tomorrow as its 10 pm here.

[reply]
1. 3/04/08
  
  markstoneman
  
  I don't follow your logic. Much of the stuff is public elsewhere, but what speaks against a blogger opting in to different settings instead of their automatically being turned on and having to opt out?
  
  Edit: And does your current TOS give you permission to do republish feeds from SU, Digg, delicious, etc?
2. 3/04/08
  
  pointlessbanter
  
  I see what they are saying, it is an aggregation of public data with your feeds. I could assemble a feed of all those sites that you are signed up for by grabbing the rss for each of them or accessing the api of their programs.
  
  Essentially they are capturing what is already floating around.
3. 3/04/08
  
  markstoneman
  
  And they have the right to do this?
  
  And is it a sound business decision?
4. 3/04/08
  
  pointlessbanter
  
  Having a right? Yeah, if you look at the privacy policies of those websites. Really all BC is doing is aggregating available data that anyone can get. A larger question is how the other sites make your data available, but I mean these are social websites and it is kind of their goal to make what your produce available for consumption. (I am not saying it is right.)
  
  A sound business decision that is another debate. I think they were proud of what they created here feature wise and wanted to get it out, with a misstep here or there but if we have learned anything about this site is that they listen and do think of the community.
5. 3/04/08
  
  offendedblogger
  
  @ Sitepro, OK, that makes sense and now that I checked out my dashboard privacy settings it really is nice the way you guys set it up and how I can pick what I see and what I show.
  
  I don't mind showing my stuff, it's all good.
6. 3/05/08
  
  TonyB
  
  @ stoneman, there are numerous privacy measures built into what we are doing.
  
  First, to protect the privacy of members we do not go out and pull data from sites UNLESS you have submitted your member details to us.
  
  So if you don't want to display what you have dugg, or stumbled you have option of not providing us with your accounts on these other services. As far as public display, your diggs and stumbles are potentially being seen by millions of people on these other sites.
  
  Second, you have the ability to turn everything off on BlogCatalog. We had a slight misstepm by displaying data from before the date you opted out. However this will be corrected in the morning.
  
  This compares to other social network sites such as MyBlogLog whose feed pulls and displays everything whether you like it or not. In fact your diggs and stumbles and twitters are potentially seen by millions of people on those sites already.
  
  We are highly focused on being responsive to the community and have taken the necessary steps to enable members who do not want to share their news feed with others to opt out.
7. 3/05/08
  
  markstoneman
  
  I appreciate your responsiveness on undoing the mistake for earlier data, which will happen later this morning. Now I'm just asking why it was all turned on automatically in the first place. As DrowseyMonkey's remarks below illustrate, some people don't know about the thing. People who have not been active for some time might be surprised.
  
  I do take your point that the stuff is a mater of public record anyway---at least the communities. But what about the add/drop friends and add/drop neighborhoods here? Is that a matter of permanent public record? And while our discussion contributions are permanent, at least they disappear to the bottom of the heap and people have to go to the trouble of doing a search to find them.
3/04/08

mikeny07

This site is really good but I always go with the saying though "keep things simple" Once a site gets too high-tech, people leave it. The features are great though.

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3/05/08

DrowseyMonkey

wow...I never even looked at the dashboard. Yeah I don't like it either ... I'm off to unclick everything. Thanks.

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3/05/08

thegoodknife

There is now a link in 'Dashboard Settings' -> 'Your Feed' that will allow you to delete all item from your feed.

[reply]
1. 3/05/08
  
  markstoneman
  
  Cool. Thanks.
  
  That still leaves the problem with the auto-on feature. If you add new features of this kind, will they continue to be turned on by default?
2. 3/05/08
  
  thegoodknife
  
  in all likelihood yes, new features will be on automatically.
  
  I'm curious though, what exactly is it about sharing your findings/activity on BC through the dashboard that you find so menacing?
3. 3/05/08
  
  markstoneman
  
  Menacing is an overstatement. I just don't like having things changed significantly after the fact without my having a choice in the matter. As I said when you guys first introduced the Dashboard, I turned off everything until I have a chance to work out if and how I want to use it. And I don't like how now I have to monitor features in case there is anything else I want turned off.
3/05/08

Anok

OH, I'm kind of glad they have it turned on, I'm here to promote (yeah, I am I'm not all about harassing BC members) and wouldn't have even thought to turn this stuff on if I even knew how.

Then again, I'm wearing a mask, take it for what it's worth

Now I am off to see what all the fuss is about

[reply]
1. 3/05/08
  
  markstoneman
  
  Your comment about promotion makes sense, Anok. But presumably you want some control over how that looks. BC is giving us this control, and now they've undone the initial mistake that prompted this post. Still, making new features in future auto-on is problematic.
2. 3/05/08
  
  DrowseyMonkey
  
  I don't understand how the dashboard promotes your blog, it just gives a running list of what you did here at BC ... kind of like facebook or something, which is why I left facebook...it was annoying. Who cares if you joined a community or commented on a discussion. Maybe because I'm not detail oriented it would never occur to me to go to someone's profile and look at all that stuff. So I don't get how it's helpful.
3. 3/05/08
  
  Anok
  
  I thought those features were also displayed on the dashboards of other users - the ones who are "following you" or whatever?
  
  I'm totally OCD though, so I really like knowing all the little details about what I've been doing (did I forget to add a friend? have I updated my whatever promotional site?) as well as seeing what my favorite BC members are up to....
4. 3/05/08
  
  DrowseyMonkey
  
  wow... I detest details, so I'm always surprised when people look at them
3/05/08

crkian

Could you not have a message somewhere for someone to alter their preferences in their dashboard without them being turned on automatically. It may bring more viewers to the dashboard and get them more involved.

[reply]
1. 3/05/08
  
  markstoneman
  
  I'm not sure I understand. Are you suggesting that we have an option in our preferences that stops or allows BC to turn on new features automatically?
2. 3/05/08
  
  crkian
  
  Thats not a bad idea. Though perhaps when new features are released they are set to of or have no options selected. Then a short email is sent to every member announcing that they may want to go and change set preferences in whatever it is.
3. 3/05/08
  
  markstoneman
  
  MyBlogLog sent an email out last month in advance of its change in features. It explicitly referred to communications errors it had made in the past and it wanted us to know ahead of time what was happening. I think that was a good move, because not everyone visits each of these sites regularly.
3/05/08

mikeny07

Probably new features should be turned off at first. Then if someone wants them on they can put them all on.

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3/05/08

crkian

Im all for having the dashboard public myself or at least what you see from the friends you choose.

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3/05/08

survivor

I agree. I don't know if I want everything I do on the site to be displayed in the activity. I should have the option of hiding this information

[reply]
1. 3/05/08
  
  markstoneman
  
  You do, now. That was set up from the beginning, but with a glitch that TheGoodKnife fixed this morning. In practical terms, the problem has been solved, at least for the present. Now the issue is more of a "what if" thing. What will they do in future?
3/05/08

NINE

We can only pull information from the communities that you share. Additionally for each community that you share you can toggle if you want it announced or not.

If you don't want to share anything outside of blogcatalog, just leave the communities blank.

I have myspace in my communities but I have the sharing turned off since the information it is pulling isn't really relevant to blogcatalog.

I know that sometimes its hard to get used to a new feature but I can't endorse the dashboard enough, once you turn off the stuff you arent interested in and start following some interesting people it is GREAT.

It's actually my new homepage, not because I want to see what a certain person is doing but because when they digg or stumble something or even join in a discussion I get linked up right away.

For me its less about following someone as much as getting suggestions into interesting topics and websites from someone.

Additionally I take into account my actions even more because I know that when I digg something, or stumble something for example that daniel and tony are checking it out too. So many times I find myself digging something that I just think is worthy sharing with the people following me. The greatest advantage of this is when YOU write a new blogpost, I stumble it, and then other users who dont know YOU but are following me see my stumble, read it and then THEY stumble it... ect... ect...

I have found more interesting articles, more funny stories, great video clips and participated in more interesting discussions in the past few weeks than I ever did. I don't know if the use of the dashboard taking up my day is a good thing but it sure is fun.

[reply]
1. 3/05/08
  
  DrowseyMonkey
2. 3/05/08
  
  markstoneman
  
  Thanks for sharing how you're using it.
  
  So far I figure I have this function covered through my RSS feed reader, though I"m also playing with Twitter.
3. 3/05/08
  
  TonyB
  
  Mark I miss seeing what you add to delicious and knowing when you post something on your blog. I don't use RSS and I don't visit any blogs religiously, however when you used to display your activity, I used to read many more of your blog posts. The comments I made on your blog a few weeks ago were the result of me seeing the post in my dashboard. I don't quite understand the difference between a person seeing you have posted something via the dashboard or that you have made a twitter or I presume someone following your activities via rss on twitter or other social network.
  
  Your all or nothing approach is interesting since you don't have to disclose anything you don't want to. However from my perspective I'd love to be seeing when you post something new on your blog.
3/05/08

crpitt

So far I am really liking the dashboard feature, I like seeing what folks stumble, what photos they post, what they twitter about and vice versa. If I am uploading photos onto flickr I hope people go and have a look.

[reply]
1. 3/05/08
  
  DrowseyMonkey
  
  yeah, I guess I'm obviously not into all that ... I don't stumble or twitter ... if you're not a blogger that sounds really weird!
2. 3/05/08
  
  suburbqueen
  
  I'm liking it too Claire. I've come across several interesting posts because of it.
3. 3/05/08
  
  NINE
  
  DrowseyMonkey, you don't need to use stumble or twitter to use the dashboard just as long as the person you are following does. You should give it a shot, find a user who uses digg and stumble pretty often and just follow them for a few days. I guarantee that you will find a new world of interesting websites and information that you never would have come across otherwise.
4. 3/05/08
  
  DrowseyMonkey
  
  there's someone following me? Or I'm following someone? I guess I don't utilize BC to it's fullest, cause I've never done that. The thought that someone's following me around the blogosphere is kinda freaking me out, to be honest.
5. 3/05/08
  
  NINE
  
  Haha well no, if you're not sharing anything then there isn't anything they can follow. But even then, its not like they are tracking where you go, it just gives them an opportunity to see when you digg a post or stumble a web page not follow your every move.
  
  I think the misconception is thinking of it like a person is stalking you and think of it as a way to share what you find interesting with people who consider you a friend.
  
  To go back to your original question though, you don't need to share anything to see what other users are up to.
6. 3/05/08
  
  DrowseyMonkey
  
  Ah, I see. I'm kinda boring, so not really stalk-worthy anyway
7. 3/05/08
  
  TonyB
  
  me too. I have read more blogs in the past 2 weeks than ever before.
3/05/08

DarknessFalls

"I'm curious though, what exactly is it about sharing your findings/activity on BC through the dashboard that you find so menacing?"

Most of the people here are here to promote there blog and their blog has a reputation to uphold, even thought my blog is a Social Bookmarking blog everything I do on social bookmarking sites isn't geared towards my blog and I wouldn't find it acceptable for such content to be associated with my blog. That is the problem.

[reply]
3/05/08

NINE

Yea, that makes sense, thats why I have myspace and lastfm turned off right now. But flickr for example is where I post photos of the phones I review so thats relevant, and stumble/digg give me a chance to promote not just my own content but my friends information as well.

[reply]
3/05/08

markstoneman

I still don't see the second question I raised addressed here. Is it right to turn on new features like this automatically without notifying users? I don't think so. Of course, those of us who are active here found out soon enough, but what if you only stop by here every month or so?

[reply]
1. 3/05/08
  
  TonyB
  
  flamingo, unless you post that you have eaten there is no way for this information to be communicated via the feed.
  
  if you belong to digg or not you are already having your blog posts distributed to millions. Same with StumbleUpon. Same with Flickr. As well as every other network we are pulling from.
  
  You have so many ways to turn this function off if you dont like it. First of all, you do not need to submit your member name from other networks. Second even if you can select that blogcatalog members do not see this information.
  
  What we may do is send out an email to anyone affected by a new social network that we add to the list. The reality is the impact of the new social networks is tiny. 99% of everyones social activity is done via flickr, twitter, delicious, facebook. and the other networks we already provide service to.
3/05/08

flamingpoodle

Wow thanks for the heads up. I don't mind if big brother wants to go and visit my blog, but what I had for breakfast is really none of his concern.

I don't think the dashboard should display ANY of our information before we switch it on. The default should be OFF.

[reply]
3/06/08

wholeliving

One feature of the dashboard that I don't care for is that now our neighborhood posts have moved to the dashboard rather than appear when viewing a profile... I used to find a lot of blogs from seeing posts from other's neighborhood... or, am I missing something?

[reply]
1. 3/06/08
  
  markstoneman
  
  You can see them in the right-hand column, but pretty far down and not nearly as visible as earlier.
2. 3/06/08
  
  wholeliving
  
  Thanks stoneman, missed that...
3/06/08

globalgirl

There is quite the "open" and transparent experience here :-) I changed the privacy parameters as I saw fit, after the initial shock.

BC is doing a great job improving their products and services, while listening to the needs and advice of the community.

[reply]
1. 3/06/08
  
  markstoneman
  
  I agree with you there.